Will Sensex and Nifty Continue Their Flat Trend Amid Q3 Earnings Optimism?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The Indian equity benchmarks remained stable amid cautious optimism.
- Profit-booking occurred in key sectors, weighing on indices.
- Positive trends were observed in the IT and banking sectors.
- Broader indices outperformed benchmarks.
- Investors are cautious due to geopolitical tensions.
Mumbai, Jan 17 (NationPress) The Indian equity indices concluded this week with minimal fluctuations as investors remained hopeful about Q3 earnings and the revival of trade discussions between India and the US. However, caution lingered due to escalating geopolitical tensions.
Profit-taking in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, consumer durables, and automobiles exerted pressure on the indices throughout the week, while PSU banks and metals demonstrated stronger performance.
The Nifty edged up by 0.04 percent over the week and recorded a rise of 0.11 percent on the last trading day, reaching 25,694. At the end of the session, the Sensex rose by 187 points, translating to a 0.23 percent increase on the last trading day, closing at 83,570, though it experienced a slight decline of 0.01 percent over the week.
Market analysts noted that investor attention was fixed on Q3 earnings, with IT and banking results instilling a sense of confidence regarding growth and demand. The ongoing geopolitical issues rendered Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) cautious in emerging markets, leading to increased bond yields.
The earnings report from the IT sector attracted significant attention after a leading company revised its revenue forecast upwards, and the overall IT sector reported better-than-anticipated earnings growth.
Additionally, the banking sector exhibited positive trends, with preliminary results indicating improvements in asset quality and earnings performance.
These developments have fostered a positive environment for the upcoming Q3 FY26 season and are bolstering investor confidence regarding domestic earnings recovery, as per analysts.
The Bank Nifty concluded the week on a strong note, creating a bullish candlestick pattern, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicated strength with a bullish crossover, currently positioned near 61.
Broader indices outperformed the benchmark indices throughout the week, with the Nifty Midcap 100 gaining 0.20 percent, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 increasing by 0.46 percent.
Investors are closely monitoring the upcoming verdict from the US Supreme Court regarding the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs, which is expected soon, although a specific timeline remains uncertain.
Furthermore, attention is directed towards significant global macroeconomic indicators such as US PCE inflation and GDP figures, which will provide insights into the Federal Reserve's interest rate outlook.
aar/na