Published 17:02 IST, April 24th 2020
Markets continue to slump amid COVID lockdown; Sensex loses 535 pts, Nifty below 9200
Seeing a continued decline due to the Coronavirus lockdown, India's market indices - Sensex lost 535.86 points, closing at 31327.22 and Nifty fell by 159.50 pt
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Seeing a continued decline due to Coronavirus lockdown, India's market indices - Sensex lost 535.86 points, closing at 31327.22 and Nifty fell by 159.50 points, closing at 9154.40, on Friday - April 24. Market reports state that 773 shares have vanced, 1545 shares declined, and 159 shares are unchanged. Analysts state that most industries slumped except for energy and pharmaceuticals.
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Markets continue slump amid lockdown
Both indices opened at slumped rates - Nifty below 9200 level, due to continued poor performance of banking sector and automobile sector, state reports. Moreover, as day progressed, Indian rupee too saw a decline in value, ending lower by 38 paise at 76.45 per dollar. While Coronavirus has wiped out global ecomy, most affected has been oil industry which has seen oil rates slump to -$39, for first time.
On Thursday, oil prices surged to a $22.70/barrel, jumping 5% as oil-rich nations have promised to cut output swiftly due to reduced global demand for fuel. On Friday too Brent crude prices fell slightly- ending at $20.60, while shale oil (US oil prices) fell by 5.09% to $15.66/barrel, as per PTI. This volatility in oil prices has been seen as Saudi Arabia slashed its prices in an alleged price war with Russia in order to boost demand. But due to continued global lockdown and failure of OPEC talks, oil prices continued to fall as countries vow to cut 30% of oil production, match diminished demand.
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Coronavirus hits global ecomy
fear of virus has disrupted business supply chains, while number of positive cases has hit 27,45,765 cases and 1,91,806 deaths. Moody’s have estimated that coronavirus has increased risk of a global recession as vanced countries United States, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Britain, and Korea battle virus, but UN has claimed that India and China may be spared. Analysts have said that as China is largest supplier of raw materials and manufacturing hub for different industries - core industries like automobiles, metal and pharmaceuticals' tre were brought to a standstill due to China closing off its borders, but w is seeing action as China picks up manufacturing. Currently, Indian ecomy is at a standstill, as nation is at a lockdown till May 3.
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17:02 IST, April 24th 2020