FIRST TRADE: Sensex down 250 pts, Nifty slips below 20,150; Tata Steel hits 52-week high

Stock market today: The domestic equity benchmark indices, S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty opened lower on Monday, September 18, amid weak Asian peers and ahead of a week packed with central bank meetings including the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan, which will be closely scrutinised for the global monetary policy outlook.

Last seen, the S&P BSE Sensex was down by 154.12 points or 0.23 per cent at 67,684.51, and the NSE Nifty was down 49.15 points or 0.24 per cent at 20,143.2.

Among the Nifty 50 stocks, 29 declined and 20 advanced.

In the broader market, the Nifty Mid Cap 100 opened in red, whereas the Small Cap 100 opened flat.

Nifty Bank was down 0.28 per cent at 46,102.6.

Among individual stocks, Tata Steel hit a fresh 52-week high of Rs 134.85 on the BSE after the United Kingdom last week announced a joint investment package with Tata Steel worth 1.25 billion pounds, including a government grant of 500 million pounds, for the country's largest steelworks in Wales that will help protect thousands of jobs and boost the British economy.

BUZZING STOCKS

Bharat Electronics Ltd shares were up over 3 per cent after the company received orders worth Rs 3,000 crore.

Restaurant Brands Asia's stock was up nearly 1 per cent after block deals

Tata Steel shares hit 52 week high after the United Kingdom announced a joint investment package with Tata Steel worth 1.25 billion pounds last week.

GLOBAL MARKETS

Asian shares fell and the dollar was firm on Monday as investors looked ahead to a week packed with central bank meetings including the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan, which will be closely scrutinised for the global monetary policy outlook.

S&P 500 futures advanced 0.2 per cent while Nasdaq futures edged 0.1 per cent higher.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell 0.5 per cent, with Australia's resources-heavy share market (.AXJO) dropping 0.7 per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index (.HSI) off 0.7 per cent.

(With agency inputs)

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