FIRST TRADE: Sensex down over 200 pts; Nifty below 19,600; ITC, HUL down over 1%

Stock market today: Domestic equity indices on Friday, October 20, opened in the red after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments fanned worries over higher-for-longer interest rates, adding to mounting concerns over the Middle East crisis.

Last seen, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 262.42 points, or 0.40 per cent, at 65,366.82, and the NSE Nifty was down 89.25 points, or 0.45 per cent, at 19,535.45.

The Nifty Mid Cap 100 opened in red, whereas the Small Cap 100 was flat.

High-beta Nifty Bank was down 0.34 per cent at 43,607.5.

BUZZING STOCKS 

Indraprastha Gas Ltd shares were down over 9 per cent after Jefferies double-downgraded the stock.

MMTC shares were down over 8 per cent continuing its losing streak after Zee Business' Farzi bull run report.

HUL shares were down over 1 per cent post-Q2. 

ITC shares were down over 2 per cent post reporting its September quarter results.

Conversely, Tanla Platform stock was up over 6 per cent a day after the company posted its Q2 results. 

Jindal Stainless shares were up nearly 4 per cent after the company posted its Q2 results. 

GLOBAL MARKETS 

US stocks ended solidly lower on Thursday, with shares of Tesla falling after its results and Treasury yields surging as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell spoke about monetary policy and investors worried whether interest rates would stay higher for longer. 

Tesla (TSLA.O) shares dropped a day after the carmaker missed Wall Street expectations on third-quarter gross margin, profit and revenue, and its CEO Elon Musk said he was concerned about high interest rates affecting demand.

(With agency inputs) 

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