MARKET WRAP: Sensex slips 149 pts in volatile trade; mid, small-caps shine

The domestic equity market ended Thursday's volatile session in the red, dragged by banks, and information technology (IT) stocks.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended 149 points, or 0.37 per cent lower at 40,558 levels while NSE's Nifty50 index slipped 41 points, or 0.35 per cent to 11,896 levels. IndusInd Bank (down 3 per cent) was the top Sensex loser, followed by ICICI Bank, Infosys, and Titan Company.

The Nifty sectoral indices were largely in the red, with the Nifty Pharma index, down nearly 1 per cent, leading the list of losers.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index gained 0.54 per cent to 14,888 levels and the S&P BSE SmallCap index ended 0.85 per cent higher at 15,028 points. 

Global markets

World shares slid to a two-week low on Thursday, and oil steadied after another heavy fall, as a surge in global Covid-19 cases and fractious US stimulus talks kept financial markets cautious.

In the currency markets, the dollar was a modest 0.1 per cent higher against the yen at 104.66, while the euro’s dip saw it notch down 0.12 per cent to $1.1847.

Gold eased as the dollar edged up. 

(With inputs from Reuters)