Closing Bell: Markets End 2024 on a Flat Note, Post Strong Yearly Gains on December 31

On December 31, 2024, the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 ended the year’s final trading day with slight losses. The indices, which initially dropped sharply due to weak global cues, managed to recover most of the day’s losses by the closing bell.

The BSE Sensex, which fell to a low of 77,561 earlier in the day, bounced back to hit an intra-day high of 78,248 before closing at 78,139, down 0.1% or 109 points. Similarly, the NSE Nifty 50 index recovered from a low of 23,460 to an intra-day high of 23,690, closing almost unchanged at 23,645.

Strong Annual Gains for 2024

Despite the day’s marginal losses, the Sensex and Nifty posted solid gains for the year. The Sensex rose 8.2% or 8,809 points in 2024, even touching a record high of 85,978 during the year. The Nifty 50 gained 8.8% in 2024, marking the ninth consecutive year of gains for the benchmark indices, which have surged 200% during this period.

Top Gainers and Losers

On the Sensex, major losers included Infosys, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank, with Tech Mahindra shedding 2.5%. Zomato, TCS, Infosys, and ICICI Bank also fell between 1% and 2%. Meanwhile, Kotak Bank gained 2.5%, with ITC, UltraTech Cement, Tata Motors, and Tata Steel also among the top performers.

Sectoral Performance

Sector-wise, the Nifty IT index dropped 1.5%, while the Realty index also declined. On the positive side, the Oil & Gas index gained over 1%, with PSU Bank, Pharma, and Metal indices rising about 0.5% each.

Oil Prices

As of December 31, 2024, at 03:48 PM, Brent Crude was trading at $74.34, up by 0.47%.

Looking Ahead

The markets will remain open for regular trading on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2025. Investors are keeping an eye on factors such as RBI rate cuts, global economic conditions, and upcoming budget announcements to shape market trends in the coming year.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.