Snapping 4-day gains, Key Indices Slip Ahead of BoJ, Fed Meetings

Mumbai: Mirroring global weakness, the BSE Sensex fell 111 points on Tuesday. The key indices suffered losses after recording a four-day winning run. The NSE Nifty broke below the 8,800-mark as investors turned cautious ahead of key policy meetings of the US Federal Reserve and Japanese central bank.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services

The consensus is that the US Federal Reserve will leave rates unchanged, but investors are looking for commentary and the guidance for the next interest rate hike. Investors are widely expecting status quo on interest rate, however, any hawkish commentary from the Fed may divert the liquidity to safe haven assets and add volatility to the domestic market.

Out of the 30-share Sensex pack, 19 scrips ended lower. After gaining 281 points in the previous four sessions on positive global cues, Sensex declined by 111.30 points or 0.39 per cent to 28,523.20 after shuttling between 28,698.81 and 28,480.53. The wider NSE Nifty slipped below the 8,800-mark and hit a low of 8,759.30 before settling 32.50 points or 0.37 per cent to 8,775.90. Intra-day, it touched a high of 8,816.45.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, said: “The consensus is that the US Federal Reserve will leave rates unchanged, but investors are looking for commentary and the guidance for the next interest rate hike. Investors are widely expecting status quo on interest rate, however, any hawkish commentary from the Fed may divert the liquidity to safe haven assets and add volatility to the domestic market.”

Meanwhile, calling the reform process slow and gradual with muted private investment and NPAs posing a challenge, Moody’s said it could upgrade India’s rating in 1-2 years if it is convinced that reforms are tangible.
In stock specific action, Jubilant FoodWorks plunged 6.08 per cent to Rs 944.15 following news that its CEO and Whole- time Director Ajay Kaul will resign to pursue opportunities outside the company.

Market stayed in the negative almost throughout the day as participants were seen trimming positions to book profits in recent gainers coupled with caution across the global ahead of Fed and Bank of Japan policy meets this week. In line with the overall trend, the small-cap index shed 0.26 per cent, while the mid-cap lost 0.09 per cent.

Other Asian markets too closed lower and European shares were down as sentiment across the globe remained muted. Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.16 per cent, while China’s Shanghai Index shed 0.10 per cent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed 0.08 per cent down. London’s FTSE was down 0.20 per cent, Frankfurt’s DAX was flat, while France Paris CAC 40 was 0.30 per cent lower.

Source: PTI