On March 15, 2024, Indian stock market indices, the Nifty 50 and the Sensex, closed notably lower as investors exercised caution amidst concerns over high valuations and market froth.
Nifty 50 opened at 22,064.85, hitting an intraday high of 22,120.90 and a low of 21,931.70, ending at 22,023.35, down 123 points or 0.56%. Sensex opened at 72,886.77, reaching highs of 72,998.07 and lows of 72,484.82, closing at 72,643.43, down 454 points or 0.62%.
Weak global cues added to the subdued sentiment, with investors eyeing the upcoming Fed meeting for insights into growth and inflation.
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Impact on the stock market
Except for the Nifty Metal and FMCG indices, which closed unchanged, all other sectoral indices concluded in negative territory. Nifty Oil & Gas and Auto suffered the most, declining by 1.98% and 1.57%, respectively.
The Nifty Bank index dropped by 0.42%, while the Nifty PSU Bank and Private Bank indices fell by 0.35% and 0.04%, respectively.
| Sector/Index | Performance |
| Information Technology | -0.47% |
| Healthcare | -0.95% |
| Oil & Gas | -1.98% |
| Realty | -0.17% |
| PSU Banks | -0.35% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Price | Change (%age) |
| UPL | 475.15 | +2.82% |
| Bharti Airtel | 1,220.00 | +2.13% |
| Bajaj Finance | 6,514.35 | +1.83% |
| HDFC Life | 632.25 | +1.61% |
| Adani Enterprises | 3,132.20 | +1.45% |
Top losers today
| Company | Price | Change (%age) |
| M&M | 1,799.50 | -4.82% |
| BPCL | 586.45 | -3.66% |
| Coal India | 415.25 | -2.91% |
| Tata Motors | 945.85 | -2.26% |
| L&T | 3,537.15 | -1.97% |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
Ashok Leyland slips 2%
Ashok Leyland shares slid 2% to ₹ 161 on March 15, following a 3% rally. The stock is down nearly 10% this year. Hinduja Tech, a subsidiary, secured a $50 million investment from Creador for a 19.6% stake, valuing it at $255 million.
The capital infusion aims to enhance research and development capabilities. Ashok Leyland reported a 60% rise in standalone net profit to ₹ 580 crores for Q3 FY24, with revenue at ₹ 9,273 crore.
Tata Investment Corp plunges 5%
Tata Investment Corp has hit the 5% lower circuit for the fifth consecutive session, declining 22.6% over five days following the dust settling around Tata Sons’ initial public offering (IPO).
At 11 am on March 15, the stock traded at ₹ 7,540.15 on BSE, up 76% YTD. In a block deal, 35 crore shares changed hands with undisclosed details.
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L&T Tech lands ₹ 800cr cybersecurity deal, stock up 2%
L&T Technology Services stock soared over 2% to ₹ 5,385 after winning a significant ₹ 800-crore cybersecurity contract from Maharashtra. The project involves developing an advanced cybersecurity system and establishing a Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Prevention Center.
With a consolidated net profit of ₹ 336.2 crore in December 2023, up 13% from the previous year, and revenue reaching ₹ 2,422 crore, a 12% increase, the company’s stock has surged over 50% in the past year.
Crude oil futures dip
Crude oil futures slid Friday as the US producer price index (PPI) outpaced expectations. At 9:23 am, May Brent oil futures dipped to $85.25 (-0.20%), while April WTI crude futures fell to $81.12 (-0.17%).
March crude oil futures on MCX traded at ₹6728 (-0.21%), and April futures at ₹6684 (-0.21%). The data suggests market caution amid economic indicators. Traders monitor PPI’s impact on oil demand, which is reflected in slight declines across future markets.
Conclusion
In today’s March 15, 2024 stock market update, Indian indices closed lower amidst cautious investor sentiment driven by concerns over high valuations and global cues.
Ashok Leyland and Tata Investment Corp faced declines, while L&T Technology Services secured a lucrative cybersecurity deal, boosting its stock. Crude oil futures dipped following US PPI data, reflecting market caution.
Stay tuned on StockGro for further insights.
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