Closing Bell: Markets end Friday marginally lower, Nifty settles below 19,750, Sensex below 65,800: Bank stocks under pressure

The benchmark equity indices closed week’s last trading session in the negative territory. The NSE Nifty 50 dipped 33.40 points or 0.17% to settle at 19,731.80, while the BSE Sensex dropped 187.75 points or 0.28% to 65,794.73.Bank Nifty index dropped 577.60 points or 1.31% to settle at 43,583.95.

The broader indices ended largely in mixed, with gains led by Healthcare and FMCG stocks. Smallcap and Midcap stocks gained among the other sectoral indices while Healthcare, Banking and Financial Services stocks shed.

Nair also said that Investors are awaiting eurozone inflation data later today, which is expected to show a softening trend. Sharp drop in oil prices, and the moderation of US yield will help the market to sustain buoyancy, in the short-term.

SBI Life Insurance, Apollo Hospitals,HDFC Life Insurance, L&T, and Tata Consumer Products, were the top gainers on the NSE Nifty 50, while the laggers State Bank Of India, Axis Bank, ONGC, BPCL, and Bajaj Finace.

The Indian Volatility Index (India VIX) closed up 1.54%.