Key benchmark indices slumped today, 18 November 2015, as further security scares in Paris weighed on investor confidence. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 396.79 points or 1.53% to 25467.68, as per the provisional closing data. The Nifty 50 index fell 105.75 points or 1.35% to 7,731.80, as per the provisional closing data.
Selling of domestic equities by foreign institutional investors also concerned investors. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 492.45 crore yesterday, 17 November 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.
The BSE Sensex fell 407.25 points, or 1.57% at the day's low of 25,457.22 in late trade, its lowest level since 16 November 2015. The Nifty 50 fell 112.50 points, or 1.44% at the day's low of 7,725.05 in late trade, its lowest level since 16 November 2015. The BSE Sensex rose 25.89 points, or 0.10% at the day's high of 25,890.36 in early trade. The Nifty 50 index rose 5.85 points, or 0.07% at the day's high of 7,843.40 in early trade.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was weak. On BSE, 1,610 shares fell and 1,046 shares rose. A total of 185 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was down 0.80%. The BSE Small-Cap index was down 0.77%. The decline in both these indices was lower than the Sensex's decline in percentage terms.
The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 2921 crore, higher than turnover of Rs 2519.82 crore registered during the previous trading session.
In overseas stock markets, European equities opened lower as further security scares after the Paris attacks last Friday, 13 November 2015, weigh on investor confidence. According to reports, the French police and army swooped on a Paris suburb early today, 18 November 2015, amid heavy gunfire and explosions in the hunt for those behind last Friday's attacks. A female suicide bomber blew herself up, and five people were arrested during the raid. Paris saw major terror attacks on Friday, 13 November 2015, which killed 129 people.
Asian shares edged lower as investors remained cautious over fears of fresh terror attacks in Europe. US stocks gave up earlier gains to end almost flat yesterday, 17 November 2015, as falling oil prices overshadowed strong earnings from giant retailers Wal-Mart Stores and Home Depot Inc. The evacuation of a soccer stadium in Germany also rekindled terror fears, unnerving investors.
Shares of state-run coal mining giant Coal India were up 0.69% at Rs 334.50. The stock hit a high of Rs 339.35 and a low of Rs 327.95 in intraday trade. According to reports, the Union Cabinet today, 18 November 2015, approved a plan to sell Government of India's (GOI) 10% stake in the company. The GOI currently holds 79.65% in Coal India. It may be recalled that the government had sold a 10% stake in Coal India in January this year.
Most power generation stocks edged lower. Adani Power (down 3.14%), Reliance Infrastructure (down 2.76%), Tata Power (down 2.52%), Reliance Power (down 1.11%), Jaiprakash Power Ventures (down 0.57%), CESC (down 0.28%) and Torrent Power (down 0.13%), edged lower. NTPC (up 0.42%), NHPC (up 0.81%), JSW Energy (up 0.89%) and GMR Infrastructure (up 7.44%), edged higher.
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