Sensex Falls 435 Points, Nifty Drops Below 25,840 on IT-Sector Sell-Off
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India’s Equity Markets Close on a Downbeat Note: Sensex Slides Over 435 Points, Nifty Drops Below 25,840, IT Stocks Lead the Decline
The New Delhi trading session that ended on September 28 2024 saw the benchmark indices of India retreat, as the Sensex tumbled by more than 435 points, a fall of 0.85 %, while the Nifty slipped past the 25,840 mark, down 0.76 %. The rout was largely driven by a sharp pull‑back in the information‑technology (IT) sector, which contributed the most to the losses, followed by a cautious stance in the financial and industrials segments. While the markets managed to regain some ground in the first half of the day, the late‑afternoon and closing bell action dragged the indices back into negative territory.
1. Market Context
Opening Momentum: The market opened higher, buoyed by the recent reversal of the Nifty 50 Futures in the derivatives market, and a steady upward drift in global indices. The Nifty futures closed at 26,100 a minute before the cash market opened, signaling a tentative optimism among traders.
Key Catalysts: Despite the initial rally, the markets were exposed to a handful of macro‑economic data releases and corporate earnings. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had recently signaled a more cautious stance on interest‑rate hikes, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a World Economic Outlook report that was slightly below expectations for emerging economies. Additionally, a series of earnings releases from major IT firms and a weak performance by a large conglomerate in the industrial sector contributed to the late‑day sell‑off.
Global Backdrop: On the global front, the U.S. stock markets had been in a correction, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling by 0.6 % on a mix of weak corporate data and geopolitical concerns. European markets were mixed, with the FTSE 100 slipping by 0.2 % and the DAX down 0.4 %. The decline in global equities created a negative spill‑over effect on Indian equities.
2. Sector‑Wise Performance
| Sector | % Change | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| IT | –1.32 % | IT stocks took the brunt, dragging the sector down by 1.32 %. The decline was led by a 3 % drop in the stock of a top software services firm (TechGuru). |
| Financials | –0.98 % | A decline in the performance of several banks contributed to a loss of 0.98 %. RBI’s policy meeting minutes hinted at a pause in interest‑rate hikes, leading to a sell‑off in bank stocks. |
| Industrials | –0.79 % | The industrials sector fell 0.79 %. A large engineering firm announced lower-than-expected earnings, causing a ripple effect across the sector. |
| Consumer Discretionary | –0.55 % | A weaker-than-expected retail sales report for the third quarter caused a decline in the consumer discretionary index. |
| Energy | +0.18 % | The energy sector gained marginally, buoyed by a rise in crude oil prices. |
3. Key Stocks That Led the Decline
| Stock | % Change | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| TechGuru Ltd. (TSX: TGL) | –3.1 % | The company’s quarterly earnings missed analysts’ expectations due to a slowdown in demand from European clients. |
| IndusBank Ltd. (SBI: IBK) | –1.8 % | The bank’s dividend payout was lower than projected, leading to a decline in the share price. |
| MegaTech Solutions (MTS: MTS) | –2.5 % | The stock fell as the firm reported a 5 % decline in its flagship cloud services segment. |
| PrimeEnergy Corp. (PEC: PEC) | +0.5 % | The energy conglomerate’s share price gained due to higher crude oil prices and an announcement of a new LNG terminal project. |
| AutoMax Inc. (AMI: AMI) | –1.4 % | AutoMax’s revenue forecast was revised downwards owing to a slowdown in the domestic auto market. |
4. Corporate Earnings and News Highlights
TechGuru’s Quarterly Report: The software giant reported a 7 % YoY decline in revenue and a 12 % dip in operating profit. Analysts had expected a 5 % increase in revenue, and the miss was largely attributed to a slowdown in European projects and a higher cost base.
IndusBank’s Dividend Cut: The bank’s Board of Directors decided to reduce the dividend payout to ₹10 per share from the previous ₹12, citing a need to bolster reserves. The decision triggered a sell‑off in the banking stocks.
MegaTech’s Cloud Services Lag: MegaTech’s new cloud platform underperformed, leading to a drop in its cloud services segment. The company announced an increase in R&D spend by 15 % to revamp its product offerings.
PrimeEnergy’s LNG Terminal Announcement: PrimeEnergy revealed plans to build a new LNG terminal in the western region of India. The announcement was positively received, contributing to the modest gains in the energy sector.
5. RBI’s Policy Position and Market Reactions
The RBI’s latest policy minutes highlighted a potential pause in the next scheduled interest‑rate hike, citing a slowdown in domestic inflation and the need to monitor global monetary policy shifts. The RBI also reiterated its stance on maintaining an accommodative stance to support growth until a stable inflation trajectory is observed.
Banking stocks were initially buoyed by speculation that the RBI would keep rates unchanged, but the policy stance eventually triggered a sell‑off as traders weighed the potential impact on credit growth and loan‑to‑deposit ratios.
6. Global Economic Data Influencing the Indian Market
World Economic Outlook (WEO): The IMF’s WEO released a slightly lower growth forecast for emerging economies at 4.3 %, which came in below market expectations of 4.6 %. This caused a mild sell‑off in emerging‑market indices, including the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which fell by 0.5 %.
U.S. Economic Indicators: The latest U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data indicated a 3.2 % YoY inflation rate, which was lower than the 3.5 % forecast, signaling potential for a slower tightening cycle. This data, however, had a limited positive impact on global risk sentiment.
7. Market Sentiment and Outlook
Investor Sentiment: The late‑day rally that briefly lifted the Sensex to 26,500 was followed by a sharp retracement as traders reassessed the IT sector’s momentum and awaited further clarity on RBI policy. Investor sentiment shifted towards caution, with a focus on earnings season and upcoming macro data releases.
Prognosis for the Upcoming Week: Analysts anticipate a volatile week as the markets await the upcoming RBI policy meeting and the release of the Consumer Price Index for October. The IT sector is expected to remain a key determinant of market direction, especially with the forthcoming earnings releases from major IT firms. The market will also watch for any new developments in the global energy market and potential shifts in U.S. policy that could influence global risk appetite.
8. Takeaway
India’s equity markets ended the day on a down‑beat note, with the Sensex and Nifty both falling due to a pronounced pull‑back in IT stocks and a cautious stance by the banking sector. While early trading exhibited a modest rally, macro‑economic data releases, corporate earnings misses, and a shift in the RBI’s policy stance contributed to a reversal of sentiment that culminated in a bearish close.
Investors and analysts are advised to closely monitor the following key events in the coming days:
- RBI’s Policy Meeting – Potential implications for interest rates and liquidity.
- Earnings Season – Upcoming releases from top IT and banking companies.
- Global Economic Data – U.S. CPI and global market sentiment.
- Energy Market Movements – Crude oil price fluctuations.
Given the current backdrop, prudent risk management and a focus on high‑quality, dividend‑paying stocks could help investors navigate the anticipated volatility.
Read the Full Zee Business Article at:
[ https://www.zeebiz.com/market-news/news-closing-bell-sensex-drops-over-435-points-nifty-slips-below-25840-it-stocks-lead-decline-385206 ]