ADVERTISEMENT

In Charts: How This April Has Been Unique For Markets (And Why)

Here’s how markets performed in the month of April.

A pedestrian walks besides Bombay Stock Exchange at Dalal Street in Mumbai, India. (Photographer: Anirudh Saligrama/BloombergQuint)
A pedestrian walks besides Bombay Stock Exchange at Dalal Street in Mumbai, India. (Photographer: Anirudh Saligrama/BloombergQuint)

India's equity benchmarks rebounded, after a two-month slump, as investors shrugged off concerns around rising oil prices and a trade war between the U.S. and China to focus on earnings.

The Nifty 50 Index has so far gained nearly 6 percent, making it the best April in nine years. The benchmark came off its all-time high in January, falling in February and March after a global sell-off and India’s decision to bring back tax on long-term equity gains.

In Charts: How This April Has Been Unique For Markets (And Why)

Here’s why this April was different in many ways

Best April For IT In Nine Years

The NSE Nifty IT Index, the best performer among sectoral indices compiled by NSE, snapped the six-year April jinx, gaining nearly 10 percent so far this month—the best returns in nearly a decade. The gains were driven by strong March quarter earnings and the rupee depreciation.

In Charts: How This April Has Been Unique For Markets (And Why)

Worst April In 12 Years For PSU Bank Index

The NSE Nifty PSU Bank Index is set for its worst April performance in more than a decade as the nearly Rs 14,000-crore fraud reported at the Punjab National Bank in February continued to weigh on state-run lenders.

In Charts: How This April Has Been Unique For Markets (And Why)

VIX Slides The Most In A Decade

The NSE India Volatility Index, or the fear gauge, is has also dropped the most in a decade.

In Charts: How This April Has Been Unique For Markets (And Why)

Rupee Woes

The rupee weakened for the first April in three years and depreciated the most in six years.

In Charts: How This April Has Been Unique For Markets (And Why)

Foreign Investors Sell In India

Foreign institutional investors turned net sellers for the first April in six years amid global concerns such as the possibility of a U.S.-China trade tariff war.

In Charts: How This April Has Been Unique For Markets (And Why)

Worst April For Gold In Six Years

Gold is set to post losses this month as a strengthening dollar and signs of improving global economic growth sap demand for the precious metal.

In Charts: How This April Has Been Unique For Markets (And Why)