First Trade: Indices open lower, Nifty holds on to 25,000 levels; Crompton Greaves up 4%

Indian equities after scaling 25,000 levels for the first time in yesterday's trade opened higher today. At the open, Nifty opened lower 0.13 per cent- holding on to 25,000 levels, while the Sensex slipped 0.27 per cent or 224 points to 82,307 levels.

Broader markets, meanwhile, traded higher than headline indices, with the smallcap gauge up by a strong over 1 per cent.

The high beta Bank Nifty index showed strength, followed by some weakness at the last count.

From the Nifty50 pack, top gainers included stocks like Bharat Electronics, NTPC, Eicher Motors, Adani Enterprises and Adani Ports, while laggards included Bharti Airtel, SBI, IndusInd Bank, Infosys and HCL Tech.

Sectoral performance

Only private bank and IT scrips traded with mild losses, while all the other traded in the green. While realty and consumer durables led the rally on the sectoral front.

Stocks in news today

Results

FNO : BHEL (post-market), Delhivery Ltd (Post- Market)

Lock in to Open: For Adhaar Housing Finance, the lock-in will open for 35 per cent of the outstanding share, while for ASK Automotive it will be for 20 per cent of the outstanding shares.

Wendt: OFS to open for retail investors (with a price band pegged at Rs 6,500cr

Dhampur Sugar: The company's board is scheduled to take place today to consider results and buyback of shares

SBI: SBI shares will trade ex-date for its final dividend of Rs 15.9 per share.

JSW Energy: The company's scrip will be in focus post weak Q4 numbers. Jefferies post the company's Q4 earnings has maintained its 'buy' call. Anil Singhvi has recommended a buy on dips.

Bajaj Auto: Bajaj Auto investedThe Investment Committee of the Board of Directors on the previous day approved an additional investment in Bajaj Auto International Holdings BV, Netherlands, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, worth 125 million euros or Rs 1,199.92 crore. 

Asian markets today

Asian markets today: Most Asian stocks moved in a narrow range in Friday's session as Japan markets continued to register pressure post the weaker-than-expected GDP data, while steep losses in Alibaba pulled down Hong Kong’s Hang Seng. 

The Nikkei index lost after GDP in Japan fell more than expected in the first quarter. GDP contracted 0.7 per cent on-year in Q1, much more than expectations for a drop of 0.2 per cent.