Sensex slips 280 points Weekly Market Review

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), ended the week at 17,728.61 points, down 279.54 points or 1.55 percent from the previous week's close of 18,008.15 points.

The benchmark Sensex had lost 387.82 points and 611.56 points respectively in the previous two weeks.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange slipped 85.75 points or 1.6 percent at 5,313.05 points during the weekly trade.

Though food inflation moderated this week, it continued to remain high and much above the comfort zone of policy makers. Food inflation moderated to 13.07 percent for the week ended Jan 29 from 17.05 percent during the previous week.

The country's industrial output growth slumped to 1.6 percent in December, the slowest rate in 20 months.   

The markets remained battered for most of the week. The 30-scrip Sensex plunged to a seven-month low of 17,463.04 points Thursday.

However, the benchmark index rebounded 1.52 percent to close at 17,728.61 points Friday, the last trading day of the week.

The 50-scrip Nifty ended 1.67 percent higher at 5,313.05 points Friday.

Major gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex Friday were: Jaiprakash Associates, up 8.34 percent at Rs.82.50; L&T, up 5.7 percent at Rs.1,165.80; Reliance Infra, up 4.4 percent at Rs.6110; and ICICI Bank, up 4.21 percent at Rs.1,001.95.

Major losers included Tata Power, down 2.67 percent at Rs.1,183.50; Hindalco, down 2.08 percent at Rs.211.60; Tata Steel, down 1.43 percent at Rs.591.25; and Hindustan Unilever, down 1.36 percent at Rs.268.

Other Asian markets ended the week on a cautious note. Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed 0.53 percent up at 22,828.92 points, while a benchmark of Chinese markets, Shanghai Composite index, nudged up 0.33 percent at 2,815.61 points.

Most European markets ended the week on a positive note. The UK's FTSE 100 advanced 0.71 percent at 6,062.90,  the French CAC 40 rose 0.15 percent and the German DAX ended the week 0.42 percent higher.