Why Did Markets Open Lower Amid Q2 Results? IT Stocks Drag

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Indian stock markets opened lower on Q2 earnings.
- Gold prices reached record highs.
- Brent crude oil prices fell to around $60 per barrel.
- Major losers included Infosys and HCL Tech.
- Nifty IT index was the biggest laggard.
Mumbai, Oct 17 (NationPress) The Indian stock markets commenced on a lower note on Friday as investors assessed the second-quarter (Q2) earnings from prominent firms like Infosys, Wipro, and Eternal.
Negative signals from Asian markets, coupled with escalating US-China tensions, further dampened investor confidence.
Simultaneously, gold prices surged to an all-time high, contributing to the market's cautious atmosphere. Nonetheless, a significant decline in crude oil prices—with Brent crude dipping to approximately $60 per barrel—could mitigate the losses for Indian stocks.
As of 9:20 AM, the Sensex was at 83,365, down 103 points or 0.12 percent, while the Nifty fell 33 points or 0.13 percent to 25,552.
“The Nifty held onto its gains and concluded near the day's peak, closing above the 25,550 mark with a robust bullish candle. This positive momentum indicates sustained strength in the near future,” analysts remarked.
“On the downside, immediate support lies at 25,500, followed by 25,400, whereas resistance is anticipated at 25,700 and 25,800 levels,” market specialists noted.
Eternal, HCL Tech, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Power Grid, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Trent, Tata Steel, Ultratech Cement, and ICICI Bank were notable decliners, with losses reaching up to 3.5 percent.
Conversely, increases in Asian Paints, Tata Motors, ITC, Bharti Airtel, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Maruti Suzuki helped reduce some losses, with these stocks rising between 0.3 percent and 3 percent.
In the broader market, the Nifty MidCap index fell by 0.28 percent, while the Nifty SmallCap index edged up 0.10 percent.
Among sectoral indices, the IT sector was the biggest laggard, with the Nifty IT index declining by 1.13 percent. The Nifty Pharma and PSU Bank indices also decreased by 0.3 percent each.
“The market demonstrates resilience and technical strength. The price movements in leading stocks suggest short covering. Currently, there are significant short positions in the market, and the ongoing strength may keep the bears at bay, facilitating further short covering,” market experts concluded.