ITC stock nears 52-week low; slips 8% in 1 month, down 21% thus far in 2026 The stock price of ITC traded close to its 52-week low of ₹287 on Friday, marking a significant decline in the first half of 2026. Over the past month, the company’s shares fell 8 percent, underperforming the BSE Sensex’s 2.5 percent drop. As of May 29, 2026, the stock was trading at ₹288.45 on the BSE, down 1 percent from the previous day, while the broader index declined 0.6 percent. The stock’s performance has been further weighed by a 21 percent decline in 2026, compared to an 11.3 percent drop in the benchmark index. The decline in ITC’s stock price has been attributed to a combination of factors, including the challenging taxation environment for the tobacco sector and broader macroeconomic pressures. The company’s management has acknowledged the impact of steep tax hikes on cigarette sales, particularly the increase in GST rates from 28 percent of transaction value to 40 percent of retail sale price, effective February 1, 2026. These changes, coupled with the phasing out of the Compensation Cess, have led to an unprecedented rise in tax incidence on cigarettes, creating significant financial strain for the sector. ITC’s stock reached a 52-week high of ₹428.50 on June 10, 2025, but has since faced sustained pressure. The company’s Q4FY26 results highlighted a 4.5 percent implied cigarette volume growth, which exceeded expectations despite the challenges posed by the February 2026 tax hikes. However, analysts note that the market remains focused on the steep tax increases, which have led to a consensus of overestimated cigarette volume declines for FY27.#bse_sensex #itc #icici_securities #axis_securities #jm_financial_institutional_securities
Stock markets decline for second day on selling in oil and gas, banking shares; Sensex down 142 points Stock markets in India closed lower for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, as investors remained cautious amid conflicting geopolitical signals from West Asia and fresh foreign fund outflows. The 30-share Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex declined 141.90 points, or 0.19%, to settle at 75,867.80, with 20 of its constituents ending higher and 10 recording losses. The index fluctuated significantly during the trading session, reaching a high of 76,224.68 and a low of 75,748.21. The 50-share National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty also fell, dropping 6.55 points, or 0.03%, to 23,907.15. The decline was driven by selling pressure in financials, oil and gas, IT, and private banking sectors, while energy, metals, and auto shares saw gains, limiting the overall downside. Among the Sensex constituents, HDFC Bank fell the most by 2.63%, followed by Infosys, ITC, Hindustan Unilever, Reliance Industries, and ICICI Bank as major laggards. Power Grid, Eternal, NTPC, and Tata Steel were the top gainers. The market's performance was influenced by lingering concerns over the fragile US-Iran truce and elevated crude oil prices. Ajit Mishra, Senior Vice-President at Religare Broking, noted that investor sentiment remained cautious, with traders adopting a wait-and-watch approach due to conflicting geopolitical signals from the region. Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, added that while diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and Iran provided some stability, the lack of concrete breakthroughs kept risk appetite restrained. Broader market indices showed mixed results, with the BSE SmallCap Select index declining by 0.29% and the MidCap Select index rising 0.52%.#bse_sensex #nse_nifty #hdfc_bank #infosys #itc
Indian Stock Markets Rally on April 29, Driven by FMCG and Realty Gains The Indian benchmark indices, the BSE SENSEX and NIFTY50, recorded significant gains on April 29, 2026, with the SENSEX rising 0.79% to 77,496.36 and the NIFTY50 climbing 0.76% to 24,177.65. The rally was fueled by strong performance in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and realty stocks, alongside improved investor sentiment following positive quarterly earnings reports. The SENSEX opened higher and reached an intraday peak of 77,982.07 before closing at 77,496.36, while the NIFTY50 hit a session high of 24,334.70. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold stocks worth ₹595.78 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) purchased equities totaling ₹2,103.74 crore on a net basis. Among the top gainers in the NIFTY50, ITC led the pack with a 5.96% surge, driven by reports that the company, along with Godfrey Phillips, plans to increase cigarette prices by 17% in May. Tech Mahindra rose 3.31%, Reliance Industries gained 2.96%, and Coal India climbed 2.93%. Maruti Suzuki also saw a 2.89% increase, citing its record annual consolidated net profit of ₹14,679.5 crore in FY26, supported by a 1.24% year-on-year (YoY) growth and sales exceeding 24.22 lakh units. Conversely, InterGlobe Aviation, parent company of IndiGo, fell 2.31%, while Dr. Reddy’s, NTPC, Bajaj Finserv, and ICICI Bank declined by 1.99%, 1.66%, 1.02%, and 0.97%, respectively. In the NIFTY Midcap 100 index, the gauge closed 0.07% lower at 60,376.90, with JSW Energy, Lenskart Solutions, Vishal Mega Mart, Bharat Heavy Electricals, and Blue Star among the top losers. Meanwhile, Godfrey Phillips India, Cochin Shipyard, Vodafone Idea, IndusInd Bank, and Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services were the top performers. The NIFTY Smallcap 100 index rose 0.65% to 18,093.#bse_sensex #nifty50 #indian_stock_markets #itc #godfrey_phillips
Benchmark Indices Plunge as Investor Wealth Plummets On Thursday, March 19, major benchmark indices experienced a sharp decline, resulting in the loss of over ₹9 lakh crore in investor wealth. The Nifty 50 index saw most of its constituents trade in the red, with five companies hitting 52-week lows. These declines affected several key players in the Indian market, including some of the largest firms. HDFC Bank's shares reached a 52-week low of ₹770, marking a 24.5% drop from their previous peak of ₹1,020.5. The stock closed 4% lower on the day and has fallen 18% year-to-date. The banking giant's shares have also declined 7% over the past 12 months. Cipla's shares fell nearly 2% on Thursday, extending its 2026 losses to 17%. The stock hit a new 52-week low, dropping 25.65% from its peak of ₹1,673. It has also declined 21% in the last six months, with its current price at ₹1,243.80. ITC's shares fell over 1% on Thursday, hitting intraday and 52-week lows of ₹299.55. The stock is now down 33% from its 52-week high of ₹444.20. It has declined 17% so far this year, with most of the losses occurring in the early days of 2026. The stock has also dropped 25% over the past 12 months. Kotak Mahindra Bank's shares hit their 52-week low of ₹363.35 after falling over 3% from Wednesday's closing price. The stock has corrected 21% from its 52-week high of ₹460.38. For the year so far, the stock is down nearly 17%, with negative returns of 9% over the last 12 months. Hindustan Unilever Ltd.'s shares traded nearly 2% lower on Thursday, reaching a 52-week low of ₹2,097. The stock had previously peaked at ₹2,750 on September 4 last year, from which it has corrected 23.75%. It has declined 9.6% year-to-date and dropped 18% over the last six months. Bajaj Finserv's shares hit their 52-week low of ₹1,723.#nifty_50 #kotak_mahindra_bank #hdfc_bank #cipla #itc
