Sensex, Nifty50 shrug off weak global cues to end higher on expiry day

• The Sensex closed higher by 0.37% at 61,133 while the 50-stock Nifty50 ended 0.38% higher at 18,191.
• Barring FMCG and media, all sectoral indices closed higher on Thursday.
• Crude oil prices fell sharply on Thursday as rising Covid cases in China dampened hopes of a recovery in fuel demand from one of the biggest oil consumers.

Indian benchmark indices on Thursday closed higher amid expiry of the monthly futures and options (F&O) contracts, shrugging off weak cues from Asian and US markets, which were roiled by worries around rising Covid cases in China.

The 30-scrip Sensex closed 223 points, or 0.37%, higher at 61,133, while the 50-stock Nifty50 ended 68 points, or 0.38%, higher at 18,191 points.

“Nifty recovered smartly from the morning lows to end in the positive on Dec 29. Last hour trades for F&O monthly expiry squaring off/rollover and Nifty index weight rejig trades helped Nifty end 0.38% or 68.50 points higher at 18191. Volumes in the NSE cash market were the lowest in 6 months for F&O expiry day,” said Deepak Jasani, head of retail research at HDFC Securities.

Barring FMCG and media, all sectoral indices closed higher on Thursday.

On the Nifty50 index, Bharti Airtel, Eicher Motors and State Bank of India were among the top gainers, rising more than 2%. Tata Motors, Apollo Hospitals and Titan were among the biggest losers, falling more than 1%.

Crude oil prices fell sharply on Thursday as rising Covid cases in China dampened hopes of a recovery in fuel demand from one of the biggest oil consumers. Brent crude oil prices were down 1.05% at $83.11 per barrel.

The surge in China’s Covid cases has prompted some countries to enact new travel rules for Chinese visitors, even as China eased some of its lockdown rules and testing.

Meanwhile, KFin Technologies made a muted stock market debut, listing at a 1% premium. At the end of the session, shares of the company closed 0.55% lower.

Global markets remained weak
Asian markets ended in the red amid weak global sentiments. While the Nikkei 225 fell the most at 0.94%, the Hang Seng lost 0.79%. The Taiwan Weighted Index ended down 0.62%, and the Shanghai Composite index fell 0.44%.

“Global equities were largely down in thin holiday trade on Thursday as risks related to a new surge in Covid-19 cases returned to investors’ radars. Investors also remain wary of the prospect of persistently high inflation, monetary policy tightening from central banks and a potentially prolonged period of sluggish economic growth,” said Jasani.

US markets ended lower with the Nasdaq slipping 1.35% to hit a 2022-closing low as investors remain concerned about inflationary pressures, potential hike in interest rates, a tight labour market and rising Covid cases in China.

The benchmark S&P 500 index closed 1.20% lower, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.10%.

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