Indian equities experienced a narrow range of trading on Friday, concluding the day with slight losses after a busy week marked by central bank meetings and the presidential victory of Donald Trump in the United States.
The BSE Sensex, a leading benchmark comprised of 30 shares, closed down by 55.47 points, or 0.07 percent, settling at 79,486.32. This marks the second consecutive session of declines. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty index saw a decrease, dropping 51.15 points, or 0.21 percent, to finish at 24,148.20.
Mid-cap and small-cap stocks witnessed significant selling pressure, with their respective indices on the BSE declining by 1.2 percent and 1.5 percent. Notable declines in the Nifty pack included SBI, Tata Steel, Asian Paints, Coal India, and Trent, which fell between 2-4 percent. Meanwhile, gains were observed in Infosys, Nestle India, Tech Mahindra, Titan Company, and Mahindra & Mahindra, with increases of 1-2 percent.
Earlier in the day, Asian markets presented mixed results, while European markets trended lower following stimulus measures announced by China. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress revealed a substantial $1.4 trillion plan, though analysts suggested that further actions are necessary to stabilize the Chinese economy.
In the commodities market, oil prices declined in European trading, but are on track for a weekly gain of approximately 3 percent. This follows OPEC+'s decision to delay their plans to increase output by a month, alongside speculations that the Trump administration might impose stricter sanctions on oil-producing nations such as Iran and Venezuela.
Gold prices dipped slightly after gaining over 1 percent in the previous session. This fluctuation comes as Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that the central bank would assess economic data to adjust the rate "pace and destination" accordingly.
