Equity indices crack over 1% ahead of Union Budget

Equity benchmark indices swung between gains and losses in an extremely volatile trade on Friday as investors awaited the presentation of Union Budget next week. Meanwhile, the Economic Survey said economy can contract by 7.7 per cent in fiscal 2020-21, pulled down mainly by coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns to contain the spread of disease. Real GDP growth can come at 11 per cent in the next financial year 2021-22 beginning April 1, it said. At the closing bell, the BSE SandP Sensex was down by 589 points or 1.26 per cent at 46,285 while the Nifty 50 lowered by 183 points or 1.32 per cent to 13,635. Most sectoral indices at the National Stock Exchange were in the red with Nifty auto plunging by 2.9 per cent, IT by 2.6 per cent, metal by 1.9 per cent and pharma by 1.8 per cent. Among stocks, Dr Reddy's was down by 5.3 per cent to Rs 4,613.55 per share. Auto majors suffered a blow with Maruti Suzuki skidding by 4.8 per cent, Hero MotoCorp by 3.7 per cent and Bajaj Auto by 2.7 per cent. Tata Steel cracked by 3.3 per cent, JSW Steel by 2.9 per cent, Bharti Airtel by 3.2 per cent, NTPC by 3.1 per cent and Wipro by 2.7 per cent. However, IndusInd Bank gained by 6.1 per cent to Rs 851.90 per share while ICICI Bank rose by 2 per cent and HDFC Bank by 1.4 per cent.