Sensex, Nifty log first fall in 4 days; TCS, Infosys drag

In a highly volatile session, Sensex today ended marginally lower at 27,238 and Nifty at 8,400, breaking their three-session winning spree, after a plunge in market heavyweights TCS and Infosys, but positive macroeconomic data restricted the overall fall to some extent.
On a weekly basis, both key indices Sensex and Nifty recorded a rise of 478.83 points, or 1.78 per cent, and 156.55 points, or 1.89 per cent, respectively.
Shares of Tata Consultancy Services, considered to be the crown jewel of Tata Group, fell 3.90 per cent to Rs 2,252 apiece on BSE on concerns about its future after its chief N Chandrasekaran was elevated as chairman of Tata Sons.

The country's second largest IT firm, Infosys, also plunged by 2.49 per cent to Rs 975.15 apiece after the company yet again revised its annual revenue guidance at 8.4-8.8 per cent from the earlier 8-9 per cent.
However, the Bengaluru-based company has reported a 7 per cent growth in its consolidated net profit at Rs 3,708 crore for the October-December quarter.
Earlier, buying activity got a boost from positive economic data as industrial production in November grew 5.7 per cent against a contraction of 3.4 per cent in the same month a year ago and December retail inflation fell further to a multi-year low of 3.41 per cent.

Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services Ltd, said, "Earnings season got rolling with three index stocks having announced results, and general sentiments showed an inclination towards holding on to recent gains, especially with IIP and CPI figures lending support. However TCS and Infy's volatility following their Q3 releases kept a check on gains though, global cues were subdued with US markets showing signs that Trump trades are wearing off."

The benchmark BSE index had opened higher 27,378.01 and advanced to to hit a higher of 27,459.75 largely in tandem with a firm trend at other Asian bourses. Later, it slipped into the negative zone to touch a low of 27,143.07, but finally ended 9.10 points, or 0.03 per cent, down at 27,238.06. The gauge had rallied 520.57 points in the past three days.

The NSE Nifty settled the day 6.85 points, or 0.08 per cent lower, at 8,400.35 after shuttling between 8,461.05 and 8,373.15 in intra-day trade.
Asian stocks ended mixed with key indices like Hong Kong's Hang Seng rising 0.45 per cent and Japan's Nikkei 0.80 per cent. While Shanghai Composite index ended 0.21 per cent lower.
Of the 30-share Sensex pack, 15 closed with gains, while
others ended in the negative terrain.
Small-cap and mid-cap indices fell 0.57 per cent and 0.37 per cent respectively after retail investors locked-in gains at existing levels.
M&M gained the most among Sensex constituents by rising 1.80 per cent to Rs 1,301, followed Power Grid at 1.60 per cent to Rs 203.05.

Other gainers included Infosys (1.60 per cent), HUL (1.31 per cent), Wipro (1.21 per cent), NTPC (1.12 per cent), Tata Steel (1.02 per cent), Bajaj Auto (0.64 per cent), TCS (0.57 per cent), HDFC Bank (0.46 per cent), HDFC Ltd (0.42 per cent) and Axis Bank (0.38 per cent).
However, SBI fell by 1.76 per cent, followed by Maruti Suzuki (1.44 per cent), Coal India (1.23 per cent), Hero MotoCorp (1.23 per cent), Lupin (1.17 per cent), ITC Ltd (0.93 per cent) and Asian Paints (0.85 per cent).
Shares of Bank of Baroda slumped 10.26 per cent to Rs 168.75 after it posted lower-than-expected quarterly profits on Friday.

Shares of telecom operator Idea Cellular too plunged by 2.67 per cent to Rs 107.40 after it logged a consolidated net loss of Rs 383.87 crore for the December quarter on Saturday.
Among the BSE sectoral indices, IT rose by 0.86 per cent followed by Teck (0.67 per cent), Power (0.37 per cent), Metal (0.31 per cent) and Bankex (0.14 per cent).