In a highly choppy trade, the Bombay Stock Exchange sensitive index, Sensex ended weak for the sixth straight session and closed lower by 28 points on Tuesday and closed at 19196.34 against 19224.12 on Monday on sell-off in blue chips, including Infosys Technologies and Reliance Industries, amid overall nervous sentiment ahead of corporate results starting this week.
The Sensex swung widely between the positive and the negative terrains throughout the session, and hit a four-month low of 19003.60 intra-day. Opening firm and gaining over 207 points, the 30-share BSE index then fell by more than 200 points. Eventually, it finished the day with a marginal dip of 27.78 points at 19196.34. “All eyes will be on the IIP (index of industrial production) number on Wednesday and Infosys' results on Thursday. Weekly food inflation data and December's inflation report will also have an impact on sentiment,” IIFL Head of Research Amar Ambani said.
Sharp rebound in rupee
The rupee on Tuesday rebounded sharply by 29 paise to close at 45.16/17 against the U.S. currency on heavy dollar selling by banks and exporters despite sustained capital outflows. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened better at 45.40/41 from its last close of 45.45/46 following initial firmness in domestic stocks. It later moved in a range of 45.43 and 45.15 before settling at 45.16/17.
