Money & markets in 5 minutes

Things worth knowing

1. 01
   MARKETS

   Sensex and Nifty recover part of Thursday's fall, but the weekly losing streak stretches to seven

   The Sensex closed at 73,895.74, up 315.20 points (0.43%), and the Nifty 50 ended at 23,140.50, up 77.40 points (0.34%). This came a day after the Sensex lost 1,247.71 points (1.67%) on Thursday, when US bond yields hit their highest level since 2007. Consumer durables, auto and realty led the gains, with Axis Bank, Mahindra and Mahindra and HDFC Bank among the top Sensex gainers. IT, pharma and healthcare stocks declined. The broader market was mixed: the Nifty Midcap 100 slipped marginally while the Smallcap 100 edged higher. On the BSE, 2,257 shares rose and 2,079 fell. Despite the bounce, the Nifty finished lower for the seventh week in a row, its longest weekly losing run since 2020, and several large names including Reliance, Maruti and HUL touched 52-week lows.

   So what for you?

   A one-day bounce inside a seven-week slide is normal market behaviour. If you invest through a monthly SIP, weeks like these mean your fixed amount buys more units than it did a few months ago. The useful habit is to keep contributions steady rather than react to each day's move.

2. 02
   CURRENCY

   Rupee gains 19 paise to 95.80 as crude cools

   The rupee closed at 95.80 against the US dollar, stronger by 19 paise from Thursday's close of 95.99. It opened at 95.92 and weakened to 95.94 at one point before recovering. Easing crude prices and a softer dollar index (down 0.18% at 101.10) helped, but dollar buying by importers and high oil prices capped the gain. Foreign investors sold Indian shares worth ₹5,027 crore on Thursday, which keeps pressure on the currency. Dealers expect the RBI to step in if the rupee approaches the 96 mark.

   So what for you?

   A weaker rupee makes anything priced in dollars costlier for you: foreign travel, overseas education fees, imported gadgets and, indirectly, fuel. If you have a dollar expense coming up in the next few months, the rupee's level is worth tracking as you budget.

3. 03
   GLOBAL

   Bond yields and oil set the mood for Indian stocks

   Two global forces drove this week's swings. First, the US 10-year Treasury yield crossed 5.2% on Thursday, its highest since 2007, and India's 10-year government bond yield rose to 7.09%. Second, Brent crude jumped more than 7% over Wednesday and Thursday before slipping about 1% on Friday to near $105.5 a barrel after reports that US and Iranian negotiators are exploring a phased deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a route that normally carries about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supply.

   So what for you?

   India imports most of its crude oil, so oil prices feed into petrol, transport and food costs, and eventually into your monthly budget. Higher bond yields also influence the interest rates banks offer on loans and fixed deposits over time.