FINAL TRADE: Sensex ends 73 pts lower, Nifty dragged to 24,781; Bajaj Auto settles 4% higher

Indian equities in a highly volatile session ended Monday's session (October 21) lower. Nifty closed the session at 24,781.1, down 0.29 per cent or 72.95 points, while Sensex ended lower by 0.09 per cent or 73.48 points at 81,151.27. Broader markets, however, tumbled sharply with Nifty Midcap 100 ending 1.7 per cent lower.

Sectorally, of the 13 major indices, only Nifty Auto and Nifty Financial Services indices ended in the green, while all other succumbed to losses. 

From the Nifty pack, top gainers included stocks like Bajaj Auto, HDFC Bank, Asian Paints, M&M and Eicher Motors, while top laggards were Tata Consumer Products, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bajaj Finserv, BPCL and IndusInd Bank.

HDFC Bank shares after a steady set of Q2 numbers ended 2.83 per cent higher at Rs 1,728.8 per share. 

RBL Bank shares ended sharply lower amid a dismal set of September quarter results. Nonetheless, Citi reiterated its buy call on the stock and anticipates 24 per cent potential gains. 

Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services said, "The domestic market displayed considerable volatility, with key indices swinging between negative and positive terrain."

PBOC has further reduced interest rates by 25 bps to support its struggling economy. Meanwhile, FIIs continued their strategic buying in China while selling off in India, driven by weaker corporate earnings and valuation concerns.

Concurrently, domestic Q2 earnings have been mostly underwhelming, with major private sector banks notably disappointing. However, DIIs have offered some support, mitigating the market’s decline, noted Nair.

Oil prices remained steady in Monday's trade, after an over 7 per cent decline last week as supply disruption concerns due to Middle East tensions ebbed. Last, brent crude was up 1.33 per cent at $74.03 per bbl.

Meanwhile, European markets traded with a cut, ahead of a slew of earnings from marquee corporates. The European Stoxx 600 index last was down 0.24 per cent.

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