Indian equity benchmarks closed lower on Tuesday, with selling pressure led by companies in the Real Estate, Fast Moving Consumer Goods and Healthcare sectors. At the National Stock Exchange close, the Nifty 50 retreated 0.36%. The BSE Sensex 30 finished the session down 0.33%.
Among Nifty constituents, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (NSE:MAHM) was the days top gainer, advancing 3.68% - up 114.30 points - to finish at 3,220.80. UltraTech Cement Ltd (NSE:ULTC) added 1.54%, or 181.00 points, to close at 11,939.00, while Hindalco Industries Ltd. (NSE:HALC) rose 1.37%, or 14.30 points, to end the session at 1,057.00.
On the downside, ICICI Bank Ltd (NSE:ICBK) led decliners among the Nifty pack, slipping 1.57% or 19.90 points to 1,250.90 at the close. Coal India Ltd (NSE:COAL) dropped 1.49% or 7.15 points to finish at 472.80, and Jio Financial Services Ltd (NSE:JIOF) fell 1.48% or 3.74 points to end at 249.00.
Movements were similar on the BSE Sensex 30, where Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (BO:MAHM) led gains with a 3.85% rise to 3,225.35. UltraTech Cement Ltd (BO:ULTC) climbed 1.58% to 11,940.65, and Bajaj Finserv Ltd (BO:BJFS) added 1.08% to close at 1,790.70. The laggards included ICICI Bank Ltd (BO:ICBK), down 1.54% to 1,251.40, Tech Mahindra Ltd (BO:TEML) which lost 1.28% to settle at 1,452.00, and Eternal Ltd (BO:ETEA) which fell 1.15% to close at 249.05.
Market breadth reflected the sessions risk-off tilt. On the National Stock Exchange, falling issues outnumbered advancing ones by 1,303 to 1,223, while 52 stocks finished unchanged. On the Bombay Stock Exchange, 2,050 shares declined and 1,868 advanced, with 169 unchanged.
Volatility as measured by the India VIX moderated, declining 2.72% to 17.80 by the close.
Commodities displayed a mixed picture. Gold Futures for June delivery rose 0.68% - up 30.86 - to $4,564.16 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for June delivery fell 2.52% or $2.68 to $103.74 a barrel, while the July Brent contract declined 1.63% or $1.87 to trade at $112.57 a barrel.
Currency pairs moved modestly: USD/INR eased 0.13% to 95.21, while EUR/INR strengthened 0.21% to 111.42. The US Dollar Index Futures was marginally higher, up 0.05% at 98.31.
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