Stock Market Today: Nifty, Sensex Struggle To Recover From Two–Month Low As HUL, ITC Weigh

• US: Jobless Weekly Claims — 6:00 p.m. IST

• US: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack will deliver opening remarks at a conference hosted by the Center for Inflation Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the European Central Bank — 6:15 p.m. IST

• UK: External Bank of England MPC Member Catherine Mann will participate in a panel discussion titled "Global Macro Economy in a New World" at the Washington DC Economic Festival — 6:30 p.m. IST

• US: Flash services and manufacturing PMI — 7:15 p.m. IST

• US: New home sales — 7:30 p.m. IST

• US: Energy Information Administration weekly natural gas storage report — 8:00 p.m. IST​

As of 3: 30 p.m., futures of S&P 500 was 0.4% up at 5,860.75, Nasdaq was 0.8% higher at 20,376.25, while those of Dow Jones fell 0.2% at 42,659.00.

The rupee appreciated by 1 paisa to close at 84.077 against the US dollar. It closed at 84.083 on Wednesday, according to data on Bloomberg.

The NSE Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex settled at over two–month low on Thursday for a third consecutive session as earning releases failed to uplift investors' sentiment. Moreover, a decline in Asian shares, and overnight losses on Wall Street also pressured the Indian benchmarks.

The Nifty 50 ended 36.10 points or 0.15% down at 24,399.40, and the Sensex ended 16.82 points or 0.02% down at 80,065.16.

In Thursday's choppy session, the benchmark indices recovered briefly. Intraday, the Nifty 50 rose 0.18% to 24,480.65, and the Sensex rose 0.22% to 80,259.82.

Intraday, the Nifty 50 fell 0.39% to 24,341.20, and the Sensex declined 0.34% to 79,813.02.

The lacklustre weekly expiry trade ended on a negative note at 24,399.40 with a loss of 36.10 points, said Aditya Gaggar, director, Progressive Shares. Among the sectors, Banking indices were the top performers while correction extended in the FMCG sector plunging over 2% in today's trade and registered as a major laggard followed by Realty. Disparity was seen in the Broader markets where Midcaps underperformed while Smallcaps more or less moved in tandem with the frontline index. Nothing has changed in terms of the support level of the Index i.e. 24,370; and on the flip side, the resistance has shifted lower to 24,560-24,600. In case of a breakdown, the Index is likely to test the level of 24,200, conversely, a break above the mentioned resistance point will push the Index higher to 24,670, Gaggar added.

HDFC Bank Ltd., Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., State Bank of India, UltraTech Cement Ltd., and ICICI Bank Ltd. supported the Nifty 50 index.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd., ITC Ltd., Hindalco Industries Ltd., SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd., and Infosys Ltd. weighed don the benchmark index.

On NSE, six sectors declined, and six sectors advanced. The NSE Nifty FMCG declined the most, and the NSE Nifty PSU Bank rose the most.

Broader indices underperformed. BSE Midcap ended 0.13% doen and BSE Smallcap fell 0.7% lower.

Eleven of 20 sectoral indices fell and nine rose. BSE FMCG fell the most.

Market breadth was skewed in the favour of sellers. As many as 2,345 stocks fell, 1,590 rose, and 98 remained unchanged on the BSE.

• The NSE Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex closed at over two–month low for third consecutive session on Thursday.

• Hindustan Unilever Ltd., ITC Ltd. and Hindalco Industries Ltd. shares were top losers.

• HDFC Bank Ltd., State Bank of India Ltd., UltraTech Cement Ltd. were top gainers in the index.

• The NSE Nifty FMCG hit over three–month low and was the worst performing sector on NSE. It ended 2.83% down at 58,396.90.

• The NSE Nifty PSU Bank index was the best performing sector. It settled 1.22% higher at 6,430.

• The NSE Nifty Midcap 150 ended 0.25% down at 20,932.75.

• The NSE Nifty Smallcap 250 ended 0.60% down at 17,352.20