ITC becomes most influential stock in Sensex

Pushes energy giant Reliance Industries to the second spot

FMCG major ITC today became the most influential stock on BSE benchmark Sensex, pushing energy giant Reliance Industries to the second spot.

At the end of today's trade, ITC commanded 10.01% weight, while RIL had 9.07% weight, followed by ICICI Bank which had 7.66% weight in 30-share Sensex.

A stock's weight in Sensex is measured by the value of a company's free-float or non-promoter shares that can be freely traded in the market.   

Shares of ITC settled 0.81% higher at Rs 287.60 on the BSE, while RIL fell by 0.97% to Rs 805.40.

RIL shares have been under pressure since last three days as weak quarterly earnings remained a worry, said analysts.

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) on Monday reported its fourth consecutive drop in quarterly net profit, hurt by weak demand and lower natural gas output, but sequentially its earnings had rebounded. RIL's July-September net profit at Rs 5,376 crore, fell 5.7% from Rs 5,703 crore in the previous year.

Meanwhile, ITC had first replaced RIL as the most influential stock on Indian bourses on April 17, but the very next day the energy major regained the top-weighted stock status on the BSE benchmark index Sensex, pushing the FMCG giant down to the second slot.

In terms of market valuation, RIL remains the most valued company in the country with a m-cap of Rs 2,60,589 crore, while ITC's is valued at Rs 2,25,947 crore.