‘Muhurat’ trade session: Global cues, profit booking subdue markets

Mumbai, Oct 30 (IANS) The Indian equity markets ceded their initial gains during the special "Muhurat" trade session on Sunday to close on a negative note.

The special trade session was held to mark the start of the Hindu New Year - Samvat 2073.

The annual one-hour special session was held between 6.30 p.m and 7.30 p.m.

Its trade began on a positive note. However, caution ahead of key global events' risks, negative international cues and profit booking subdued investors' sentiments.

The 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed lower by 12.30 points or 0.14 per cent at 8,625.70 points.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE which opened at 28,066.32 points, closed at 27,930.21 points (at 7.30 p.m.) -- down 11.30 points or 0.04 per cent from the previous day's close at 27,941.51 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,095.71 points and a low of 27,890.14 points during the intra-session trade.

In contrast, the BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bulls -- with 1,938 advances and 520 declines.

"Lower global crude oil prices and negative global cues subdued the benchmark indices. However, mid-cap segment rose with healthy gains," Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, told IANS.

The special trading session held every year on Diwali is considered to be auspicious for stock market trading. It is believed that the "Muhurat" trading on this day brings wealth and prosperity throughout the year.

This ritual has been observed for ages by the trading community.

On Friday, the last trading day, the equity markets had closed on a flat-to-positive note, even as negative global cues, foreign fund outflow and profit booking subdued investors' sentiments.

The barometer index inched-higher by 25.61 points or 0.09 per cent to 27,941.51 points, while the NSE Nifty gained 22.75 points or 0.26 per cent to 8,638 points.

In Samvat 2072, the barometer index had gained 2,074.56 points or 8.02 per cent, whereas the NSE Nifty had swelled by 813 points or 10.38 per cent.