Benchmark indices shook off their recent spell of weakness to close modestly higher on July 31, propelled by banking and auto stocks, ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision.
After a choppy session, the 30-share BSE Sensex settled 83.88 points or 0.22% higher at 37,481.12. The broader NSE Nifty ended 32.60 points or 0.29% up at 11,118.00.
Market sentiment improved somewhat on expectations that the U.S. Fed will reduce rates in its policy meeting for the first time in a decade, traders said.
Yes Bank was the biggest gainer in the Sensex pack, soaring 6.04%, followed by IndusInd Bank, Tata Steel, Hero MotoCorp, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Auto, Power Grid, Tata Motors, SBI and Kotak Bank that gained up to 5.32%.
On the other hand, Axis Bank emerged as the biggest loser, dropping 4.55%, followed by Bharti Airtel, Reliance, NTPC, Maruti, Tech Mahindra, ONGC, HDFC and HDFC Bank.
“Market reversed after testing the psychological level of 11,000 mark supported by short covering in banks and auto after recent days of fall and prospects of dovish Fed policy.
“Investors’ appetite for mid and small caps is yet to find confidence despite consolidation as lackluster earnings and high beta impacted the sentiment. A decisive up move will depend upon ease in liquidity crunch and improvement in fundamentals,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.
Sectorally, BSE metal surged the most at 2.43%, followed by auto (1.26%), oil and gas (1.06%), basic materials (1.40%), healthcare (0.95%), industrials (0.86%), capital goods (0.74%), power (0.63%), information technology (0.60%), utilities (0.67%), FMCG (0.50%), bankex (0.33) and finance (0.28%).
However, telecom, consumer durables, energy and realty lost up to 1.63%.
Foreign investors sold equities worth ₹644.59 crore on a net basis on July 30, as per provisional data with stock exchanges.
On the currency front, the rupee was trading almost flat at 68.84 against the U.S. dollar.
Globally, markets awaited the outcome of the Fed’s policy meeting, and also tracked the U.S.-China trade talks.
The U.S. and Chinese officials held their first meeting on July 30 since they agreed on a trade truce last month. However, hopes for any resolution was dampened as U.S. President Donald Trump took to Twitter to accuse China of going back on commitments.
“My team is negotiating with them now, but they always change the deal in the end to their benefit,” Mr. Trump tweeted.
Elsewhere in Asia, Shanghai Composite Index, Hang Seng, Kospi and Nikkei ended in the red.
Equities in Europe were also trading lower in their respective early sessions.
Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.82% to $65.25 per barrel.
