Sensex and Nifty News: Benchmark Indices Extend Losses Amid Global Jitters

Market Performance

On Monday, May 19, Indian stock markets declined for the second consecutive day, led by negative global cues and heightened volatility.

• Sensex closed at 82,059.42, down 271 points or 0.33%
• Nifty 50 ended at 24,944.45, down 75 points or 0.30%

While benchmark indices slipped, BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices showed strength:

• Midcap Index rose 0.27%
• Smallcap Index jumped 0.75%

Meanwhile, the India VIX surged nearly 5%, reflecting rising investor anxiety.

Main News

Why Did Sensex and Nifty Fall Again?

The markets remained under pressure due to:

• Lack of fresh domestic triggers
• Weak global cues following Moody's downgrade of the US credit rating
• Profit booking at elevated valuation levels

Notably, the Nifty 50 dropped below the 25,000 mark, indicating cautious sentiment without strong market drivers.

Global Influences Behind Market Weakness

1. Moody's Downgrade of US Credit Rating
   • US rating lowered to Aa1 due to debt burden nearing $36 trillion
2. Surge in US Treasury Yields
   • 10-year yield rose to 4.52%, while 30-year breached 5%
3. Broad-Based Weakness in Global Markets
   • Asian and European markets ended lower
   • US Futures indicated a negative opening
4. Decline in Indian IT Stocks
   • The sector fell over 1% due to its exposure to the US economy
5. Spike in India VIX
   • Jumped 11% to 19.81, pointing to increased market uncertainty

Sector-Wise Performance

• Top Gainers:
  • Nifty Realty: +2.26%
  • PSU Bank Index: +1.46%
  • Financial Services: +0.13%
  • Nifty Bank: +0.12%
• Top Losers:
  • Nifty IT: -1.30%
  • Media: -0.59%
  • Oil & Gas: -0.36%

Stock Highlights

Top Nifty 50 Gainers

• Bajaj Auto: +4.10%
• Shriram Finance: +1.85%
• Power Grid Corp: +1.35%

Top Nifty 50 Losers

• Eicher Motors: -3.06%
• Grasim Industries: -2.90%
• Infosys: -2.00%

Most Active by Volume

• Vodafone Idea: 171 crore shares
• YES Bank: 14.65 crore shares
• GTL Infrastructure: 10.57 crore shares

Notable Movers

• Nine stocks gained over 15% — including Kaya, Banco Products, and Zodiac Energy
• Two stocks fell over 10% — Protean eGov Technologies, Bharat Bijlee
• 175 stocks hit upper circuit, while 54 hit lower circuit

Company Details: Stocks at 52-Week Highs and Lows

• 118 stocks hit 52-week highs — including:
  • ICICI Bank
  • Bajaj Holdings
  • BEL
  • Divis Laboratories
  • IndiGo
• 35 stocks hit 52-week lows — Including:
  • Jai Balaji Industries
  • NIIT Learning Systems

Summary of the Article

Both indices recorded losses for a second straight session amid rising global tensions in today's Sensex and Nifty News. Key drivers included the US credit rating downgrade by Moody's, surging bond yields, and a global market sell-off. While Indian mid- and smallcap stocks showed resilience, IT stocks dragged major indices. The surge in the VIX to nearly 20 hints at further volatility ahead.

As investors tread cautiously, keeping an eye on global economic developments and market sentiment will be crucial in the coming sessions.