Indian Markets Slip on RBI Norms, Steel Probe; Reliance Denial

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AuthorKavya Nair|Published at:
Indian Markets Slip on RBI Norms, Steel Probe; Reliance Denial
Overview

Indian markets fell amid volatile trading, with Nifty holding 26,150 despite pressure from Reliance Industries. Services sector PMI hit an 11-month low. Regulatory actions included RBI tightening related-party lending and the CCI investigating steel firms for cartelisation. Reliance denied receiving Russian oil.

Indian equity benchmarks closed Tuesday's session in the red, weighed down by losses in heavyweight stocks such as Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank. The benchmark Nifty index managed to defend the 26,150 level during weekly options expiry, but broader market sentiment remained cautious.

Economic Slowdown Signals

Domestically, India's services sector growth decelerated sharply in December. The HSBC India Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, fell to 58.0 from 59.8 in November, marking an 11-month low. This slowdown was attributed to softening new demand and a pause in hiring activity.

Corporate Denials and Regulatory Actions

Reliance Industries Ltd. strongly refuted reports suggesting Russian oil cargoes were destined for its Jamnagar refinery, terming the claims "blatantly untrue" and stating they tarnished the company's image.

In a boost for Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), its shares surged up to 13% after the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) indicated it was ready to withdraw a previous order affecting market coupling.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued revised directions on lending to related parties, aiming to strengthen governance and transparency across financial institutions. Meanwhile, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has sought responses from steel companies following its investigation arm's flagging of prima facie concerns regarding cartelisation. No ruling has been passed yet.

Globally, Nestlé initiated a recall of certain infant formula batches in the UK and other regions due to potential contamination.

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