Sensex, Nifty slip in volatile trade on profit-taking in blue-chips

MUMBAI, May 21: Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty closed marginally lower after a volatile session on Thursday, driven by profit-taking in select IT, financial, and oil & gas shares.

The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 135.03 points, or 0.18 per cent, to settle at 75,183.36. During the day, it hit a high of 75,945.79 and a low of 74,996.78, gyrating 949.01 points.

The 50-share NSE Nifty skidded 4.30 points, or 0.02 per cent, to end at 23,654.70.

From the 30-Sensex firms, Bajaj Finance, Tech Mahindra, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys, Bajaj Finserv and Bharti Airtel were among the major laggards.

InterGlobe Aviation, Trent, Bharat Electronics and Adani Ports were among the winners.

“Indian equity markets witnessed another volatile session today, with benchmark indices surrendering their strong opening gains as positive global cues collided with persistent macroeco- nomic concerns and strong resistance at higher levels,” Hariprasad K, Research Ana- lyst and Founder, Livelong Wealth, said.

Broader markets were also rangebound as the BSE SmallCap Select index climbed 0.48 per cent, while the MidCap Select index ended almost unchanged.

Among sectoral indices, IT declined the most, by 0.53 per cent, followed by Focused IT (0.52 per cent), MidSmall Private Banks Quality Tilt (0.46 per cent), Utilities (0.42 per cent), FMCG (0.42 per cent), and Bankex (0.24 per cent).

However, Services jumped 1.59 per cent, followed by Capital Goods (1.29 per cent), Industrials (1.08 per cent), Commodities (0.91 per cent) and Telecommunication (0.80 per cent).

“Markets remained vola- tile and ended largely flat for yet another session on Thurs- day, extending the ongoing consolidation phase amid mixed global cues”. (PTI)