Shares plunge over 2%; rupee hits record low
BENGALURU: Shares lost more than 2% on Thursday and the rupee hit an all-time low, as investors shunned riskier assets in the run-up to inflation data which could bolster fears of more rate hikes.
The NSE Nifty 50 index dropped 2.22% to close at 15,808 and the S&P BSE Sensex fell 2.14% to 52,930.31. Both the indices logged their fifth straight session of losses and hit a twomonth low.
The focus was on inflation data. A Reuters poll had showed that India’s retail inflation is likely surged to an 18-month high in April, staying well above the central bank’s 2%-6% tolerance band for a fourth consecutive month.
Sentiment globally was weaker after data showed US inflation rose sharply in April, deepening fears of aggressive policy tightening by the Federal Reserve and a global economic slowdown.
The Indian rupee plunged to a record low for a second time this week, hitting 77.63 against the dollar. It settled at 77.5025.
Indian stock markets have in recent weeks been roiled by fears of sky-high inflation, a surprise interest rate hike, foreign fund outflows, and a mixed set of corporate results.
Foreign investors have sold Indian equities worth $2.27 billion so far in the current month, compared with net buying of $967 million in the same period last month, Refinitiv data showed.
“For Indian markets, inflation and Reserve Bank of India’s unexpected rate increase has created some kind of nervousness,” said Kranthi Bathini, director of equities strategy at WealthMills Securities.
Reliance Industries, HDFC, Bajaj Finance, and Bajaj Finserv were among the top drags on the Nifty 50, falling between 2% and 3%. Adani Ports was the top percentage loser on the Nifty 50 index, falling 6%.
Jaguar Land Rover parent Tata Motors closed down 4.1% down, ahead of its quarterly results.
India’s economic growth rate is likely to slow if the central bank hikes interest rates, finance secretary T.V. Somanathan said on Thursday.