Indices snap four-day losing streak as oil prices ease, positive global cues

Mumbai: Indian equity benchmarks ended higher in Monday's seesaw trading session, snapping their four-day losing run, as easing crude prices and positive global cues supported sentiment despite continued geopolitical concerns and foreign fund outflows. The Sensex gained 472.77 points, or 0.66%, to close at 72,382.47, while the Nifty 50 advanced 133.80 points, or 0.6%, to settle at 22,555.75. Both indices had risen as much as nearly 1% earlier in the day, before slipping into the red mid-way through the session.

Positive global cues supported the market, with the US 10-year treasury yield easing towards 5.21%. Brent crude also moderated to around $101-102 a barrel, providing some relief to investors amid concerns over elevated oil prices.

Analysts said October has started on a cautious note as the US-Iran conflict worsens. The central bank is also expected to raise rates at its latest monetary policy review Wednesday. "The silver lining around all these gathering dark clouds is the September quarter results that will kick off from next week onwards," said Dinshaw Irani, MD & CEO, Helios India.


Like the June quarter, Irani expects the September quarter results to deliver a positive surprise. "Given that the Indian markets trade close to their long-term average valuations, the positive results should provide a fair bit of support. The upcoming festive season, too, should provide clues as to the strength of domestic demand," he said.

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Softer crude prices and reduced expectations of aggressive US rate hikes following weaker US jobs data have also improved global risk sentiment. From here, the sustainability of the rebound will depend on whether fresh buying replaces short covering and bargain hunting, according to Gaurav Garg, head - research, Lemonn.

Broader markets also ended higher, with the Nifty Midcap 150 index rising 0.5% and the Nifty Smallcap 250 index gaining 0.3%.

On the BSE, of the 4,760 traded shares, 2,052 advanced, 2,448 declined and 260 remained unchanged. Among Nifty constituents, BSE and ITC emerged as the top gainers, while HCL Tech and Max Healthcare were the major laggards. At the sectoral level, Nifty Pharma and Healthcare remained under pressure, while FMCG witnessed renewed buying along with media.

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Foreign portfolio investors were net sellers of equities worth ₹4,699 crore on Monday, while domestic institutional investors were net buyers to the tune of ₹5,181 crore.

On the technical front, the 22,400-22,380 zone could act as immediate support. A breach below this zone could revive selling pressure towards 22,220, which coincides with the October 1 low, according to Sudeep Shah, VP - technical and derivatives research at SBI Securities. "On the upside, 22,700-22,720 could act as an immediate hurdle. A sustained move above this could trigger a relief rally towards 22,850. The broader structure remains weak until sustained buying emerges," he said.