The domestic equity markets remained under pressure in midday trade on Friday, with key indices trading in the red. However, oil and gas shares staged a recovery after a four-day losing streak.

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Key indices underperform

At 12:30 PM IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 170.34 points or 0.21 per cent at 79,044.56. Meanwhile, the Nifty 50 fell by 32.45 points or 0.14 per cent to trade at 23,919.25. The broader market indices mirrored the benchmark's performance as the BSE Mid-Cap index dipped 0.27 per cent and the Small-Cap index declined 0.05 per cent.

Market breadth was marginally negative, with 1,830 stocks declining and 1,890 advancing on the BSE, while 160 shares remained unchanged.

Sectoral performance: Oil & gas gains

The Nifty Oil & Gas index climbed 0.85 per cent to 10,875.90, reversing losses from the past four trading sessions. Key gainers included Aegis Logistics (up 7.75 per cent), GAIL (India) (up 2.55 per cent), and Petronet LNG (up 2.25 per cent). Major oil marketing companies such as Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation gained 1.2 per cent each.

In contrast, IT and financial stocks dragged the indices lower, with heavyweight stocks underperforming.

IPO activity remains tepid

The IPO market saw mixed activity:

  • Ventive Hospitality: Subscribed 0.04 times by midday. The price band is Rs 610-643 per share, and the issue closes on December 24, 2024.
  • Senores Pharmaceuticals: Subscribed 0.40 times. The price band is Rs 372-391 per share.
  • Carraro India: Subscribed 0.03 times.
  • Sanathan Textiles: Witnessed a subscription of 0.71 times, showing relatively higher demand among new listings.

Global markets mixed

Asian markets showed a mixed trend as China’s central bank kept loan prime rates steady. Japan’s CPI rose to 2.7 percent year-on-year, slightly exceeding expectations. U.S. stock futures indicated a cautious opening, with Dow Jones futures down 90 points.

Outlook

Investors will closely monitor global inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s stance on monetary policy for further market direction. Oil prices and geopolitical cues will also play a role in shaping near-term sentiment.