By Vivek Kumar M
Dec 19 (Reuters) – India’s benchmark Nifty 50 snapped a four-session losing streak on Friday, tracking gains in Asian peers, as soft U.S. inflation data raised expectations for further Federal Reserve easing next year.
The Nifty 50 rose 0.58% to 25,966.4 and BSE Sensex gained 0.53% to 84,929.36.
However, the benchmarks fell 0.3% and 0.4% for the week, respectively, with ten of the 16 major sectors declining, as worries over rupee slide and foreign outflows pressured stocks.
The broader mid-caps and small-caps ended little changed for the week.
“The worst seems to be behind with foreign investors turning buyers and the rupee stabilising.
The only thing that investors need to watch out for is if there is any yen carry trade unwinding after Bank of Japan’s rate hike and commentary,” said Anita Gandhi, head of institutional business at Arihant Capital Markets.
Foreign investors bought Indian shares for two consecutive sessions till Thursday, while the rupee strengthened for a third consecutive session on Friday.
The Bank of Japan raised interest rates on Friday to levels unseen in three decades and signalled readiness for further hikes.
Meanwhile, November U.S. consumer prices came in below forecasts, rising 2.7% year-on-year, raising expectations of a Fed rate cut. This pushed Asian markets 0.7% higher. [MKTS/GLOB]
Lower interest rates in the U.S.
make emerging market equities like India attractive for foreign portfolio investors as Treasury yields and dollar typically decline.
Among individual stocks, Reliance Indutries jumped 1.3% after its arm acquired a majority stake in heritage nutrition brand Udhaiyam.
Shriram Finance gained 3.7% to hit record high after Japan’s MUFG announced plans to buy 20% stake in the non-bank lender for $4.4 billion.
Groww soared 11.6% after Jefferies initiated with “buy” rating.
ICICI Prudential Asset Management closed 19.4% higher in debut trade after a $1.2 billion initial public offering earlier this week.
(Reporting by Vivek Kumar M; Editing by Sumana Nandy, Sonia Cheema and Janane Venkatraman)
