Indian equity benchmark -- Nifty -- ended Friday’s trading session with over half a percent cut, amid a hotter than expected increase in US wholesale inflation. After making slightly negative start, soon index extended its losses, amid foreign fund outflows. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 1,356.29 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data. Traders remained cautious with report by global rating agency Moody’s asserting that the large number scheduled elections in various countries in 2024 increases risks of shifts in policy and policy effectiveness. It argued while elections rarely immediately affect sovereign credit ratings, they can result in credit positive or negative developments - like changes in the policymaking process and legislative composition - which according to it ultimately alter a sovereign’s economic and fiscal trajectories.
Index remained lower till the end, as traders were cautious with the commerce ministry stating that India's merchandise trade deficit widened to $18.71 billion in February from $17.49 billion in January. The trade deficit stood at $16.57 billion in February 2023. While the trade deficit widened in February, exports rose by 11.9 percent to $41.40 billion, while imports increased by 12.2 percent on a year-on basis to $60.11 billion. Traders overlooked an industry body the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) report 'Unicorn 2.0: Adding the Next Trillion' stating that new unicorns are likely to add $1 trillion to the Indian economy, which would reach $7 trillion size by 2030, and add 50 million new jobs.