The move over the 200-day moving average could not last long as the indices gave up its gains build over the last few weeks. Global pressures once again made a negative impact, taking a toll on the Indian (especially Asian) markets. The indices did attempt to start on a positive note and make its way to 18K mark, but the attempts were foiled with some heavy selling pressure.
Markets were unable to withstand the selling pressure, ending on a losing note on all five trading days of the week. The Sensex lost almost 5%, or 863 points, for the week at 16737, while the Nifty closed below the 5K mark, losing 246 points, or 4.70%, for the week.
World markets
Almost all global markets closed lower than their previous weeks, with Asian markets taking the most hit. For the week, Hang Seng lost over 1000 points, Nikkei 400 points, and Shanghai 85 points. Reports of AIG losing over $7 billion in bad debts triggered another bout of selling in the world markets, on the fear that the financial crisis could crop up once again. The US markets too closed on a bleak note with Dow losing 312 points while Nasdaq lost marginally by 30 points over the last week.
In the Indian markets, FIIs were on a rampant selling spree, taking the indices lower. They were net sellers in both the cash as well as the derivatives markets, at Rs 1,732 crore and Rs 1,810 crore respectively. Indian mutual funds were on the other hand net buyers during the last week, at Rs 189 crore, including Rs180 crore, according to the provisional data for Friday.
Crude prices however showed no despair at all, continuing to move to fresh all-time highs. Oil Prices climb to $126 levels, gaining a healthy 8.62% for the week. Support for crude prices exists at $119-$120 mark.
Sectoral indices
The sectoral indices could not make it three in a row after rising in the last two weeks. Profit booking and heavy selling pressure took the indices back south, with most of them losing above 6% each. Reality stocks tumbled like blocks with the reality index losing 9.50% for the week, with losses coming from majors like DLF, HDIL and Unitech.
Capital Goods have been underperformers in the last rally and were once again on a southward journey. The BSE CG index lost 8% for the week on back of selling pressure in BHEL and L&T. Even IT and techs lost from higher levels to end on a negative note despite the fact that the dollar rallied against the rupee to a 12-month high of 41.66.
Banking, oil, sugar, cement, pharma, and telecom too were on a downward trend closing the week, with losses between 3-5% each. The sell-off was across all sectors which could be attributed from the fact that only Tata Steel (up 6%) out of the 30 Sensex stocks managed to close higher than the previous week.
Mid-cap action
Mid-caps and small-caps too saw profit booking to close lower. Both the indices lost 3.50% each on lower volumes. Mid-cap infrastructure stocks were some of the biggest losers with GMR, Jaiprakash Associates and Punj Lloyd being some of the most prominent losers. OIL was another big loser with oil marketing as well as exploration firms losing ground on the last day of the week. Out-performers like Essar Oil, Hindustan Oil Exploration, RPL and MRPL lost between 9-10% each.
Mid-cap software and tech stocks too were hit, giving up gains from higher levels. Fertiliser stocks extended their losses over previous week as weak Q4 numbers prompted selling pressure into fertilizer stocks like Chambal Fertilizers and Nagarjuna Fertilizers.
Crucial supports at 16530-16570, may correct further.
The journey above the 200 DMA was shortlived, with the Sensex and Nifty ending its fourth straight weeks of gains and closing lower than 17K and 5K respectively. The BSE index lost around 5% after rising for four consecutive weeks, from 15300 to 17735. Technical indicators have turned negative and there could be more downsides on back of global pressures.
Crucial supports for the markets exist at 16550 levels on the Sensex, below which a deepening correction could be seen. Markets are more likely to remain subdued for this week, with 17050-17100 levels acting as important resistances on the upper side.