The key domestic indices closed slightly lower. Nifty Pharma and Nifty Healthcare Index shares gained, while Nifty Media and Nifty IT shares retreated.

As per provisional closing data, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, inched down 382.62 points or 0.50% to 76,132.81. The Nifty 50 index moved lower by 118.55 points or 0.50% to 23,779.15. In the past three trading sessions, the Nifty and Sensex slipped by 0.57% and 0.57%, respectively.

The broader market outperformed the frontline indices. The BSE 150 MidCap Index posted modest losses of 0.59% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index inched up 0.03%.

The market breadth was soft. On the BSE, 2201 shares rose and 3118 shares fell. A total of 234 shares were unchanged.

Tata Steel Ltd was the top traded stock in NIFTY50 index today, recording a quantity of 236.96 lakh shares and registered a sharp decline of 29.20% compared to last one-week’s average daily volume. The stock has slipped by around 1.13% in last one-month and has climbed sharply 13.18% over last one year.

Coal India Ltd was the second highest traded stock in NIFTY50 index today, recording a quantity of 135.93 lakh shares and posted a sharp drop of 24.49% compared to last one-week’s average daily volume. The stock has drifted lower by around 0.54% in last one-month and has risen sharply 6.11% over last one year.

Index action

The Nifty Pharma index edged higher by 0.75% to 26675.5 today. The index has lost 1.90% in last one week and has edged lower 0.45% over last one month. It jumped by 20.82% in last one year. Wockhardt Ltd (up 5.71%), Zydus Lifesciences Ltd (up 3.29%), Piramal Pharma Ltd (up 2.54%), Divis Laboratories Ltd (up 2.36%) and Laurus Labs Ltd (up 1.99%) gained.

The Nifty Healthcare Index index moved higher by 0.68% to 16520.3 today. The index has retreated by 2.32% in last one week and has slipped by 2.02% over last one month. It rose by 13.23% in last one year. Zydus Lifesciences Ltd (up 3.29%), Piramal Pharma Ltd (up 2.54%), Divis Laboratories Ltd (up 2.36%), Laurus Labs Ltd (up 1.99%) and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd (up 1.27%) rose.

The Nifty Media index slumped 2.86% to 1520.65 today. The index has declined by 2.34% in last one week and has inched lower by 2.19% over last one month. It is down 2.83% in last one year. Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (down 6.13%), PVR Inox Ltd (down 5.76%), Sun TV Network Ltd (down 3.83%), Network 18 Media & Investments Ltd (down 2.61%) and Hathway Cable & Datacom Ltd (down 1.33%) moved down.

The Nifty IT index shed 2.28% to 29995.2 today. The index is lower by 1.88% in last one week and has drifted lower by 2.41% over last one month. It lost 12.66% in last one year. Infosys Ltd (down 3.76%), LTM Ltd (down 2.33%), Mphasis Ltd (down 2.18%), Tech Mahindra Ltd (down 2.06%) and Wipro Ltd (down 2.04%) retreated.

Global Markets

European markets slipped slightly.

DOW futures are trading slightly lower by 0.56% today.

MCX Crude oil futures are advancing by 1.76% at Rs 8567.0 per barrel.

NIFTY50 futures ended marginally lower by 0.76% at 23866 and are in a premium of 87 points compared to NIFTY50.