Nifty emerges best performing index in FY22; metals, media best sectors

NEW DELHI: Indian stock markets outperformed most global peers, including the US and UK, during the financial year concluding on Thursday. Nifty50 index, which represents the Indian stock market, zoomed 19 per cent during the period.

In comparison, US market benchmark S&P500 index gained 16 per cent, UK’s FTSE100 index 13 per cent, French benchmark CAC40 11 per cent and benchmark for US tech stocks 9 per cent, data collated by ET Now shows.

The Indian market has seen a lot of buying over the past two years riding on easy liquidity, policy reforms and government thrust on developing infrastructure and making things at home rather than importing.



Sector-wise, Nifty Metal was the best performer, rising 62 per cent during the year. The sector gained attention after a rally in commodity prices across the world improved the outlook of companies from the segment. Aluminium, copper and steel prices have made fresh multi-year records in the past 12 months.

Nifty Media was the second best performer, zooming 53 per cent thanks to rally in shares like NDTV, Zee Entertainment and Mukesh Ambani-owned TV18 Broadcast. The industry has seen consolidation and expansion into the OTT space that is being reflected in the share prices.

Nifty Energy, which saw a lot of turmoil due to the war in Europe, and Nifty IT, which is the direct beneficiary of the rise in dollar, were the two next best sectors, rising 41-43 per cent.

Among the best performing Nifty stocks were Hindalco Industries (up 85 per cent), Bajaj Finserv (77 per cent), ONGC (69 per cent), Tata Steel (65 per cent) and Titan (62 per cent).

HDFC Life Insurance was the biggest Nifty loser of the fiscal, down about 22 per cent. Hero MotoCorp, Shree Cement, HUL and Britannia followed with 11-20 per cent fall.

Globally, the stock markets in Hong Kong, the country which is currently dealing with its worst ever phase of Covid-19 pandemic, ranked lowest, falling 22 per cent in the fiscal year.

Chinese CSI 300 declined 16 per cent in the year, while Japanese Nikkei 225 and German DAX were down 4 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively.