Stock markets in India are trading in negative territory weighed by fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) stocks.

The BSE Sensex is trading lower by 160 points (down 0.4%), and the NSE Nifty is trading lower by 30 points (down 0.3%). Meanwhile, the BSE Mid Cap index and the BSE Small Cap index are trading flat. The rupee is trading at 72.71 to the US$.

2018 has been an eventful year, to say the least. The Sensex touched all-time high of 38,990 last month.

The rupee touched an all-time low. The crude is going up and gained around 13% in 2018.

The midcap and smallcap indices are feeling the heat. They are down by about 9% and 13% respectively. Whereas, the Sensex is the outperformer with an increase of 12%.

And here’s how sectorial indices are performed in 2018.

Pharma and IT Outshine Their Peers

BSE IT index is up whopping 41% in 2018. The BSE Healthcare index also did well and is up 8.5%.

Over the last three months, the BSE Healthcare index rose by 24%.

Whereas, the BSE Auto and the BSE Oil & Gas indices were down 8.6% and 9.1% respectively.

With the rupee breaching the 72 mark, IT and pharma are outperforming all other indices.

In the near term, the rupee being under pressure could benefit export-oriented businesses.

And Kunal Thanvi’s last month’s Smart Money Secrets recommendation will benefit from the rupee depreciation.

In the news from IPO space. As per an article in a leading financial daily, the initial public offer of housing finance company Aavas Financiers was subscribed 0.03 times so far on the second day of bidding today.

The IPO to raise Rs 17.3 billion received bids for 4,36,320 shares against the total issue size of 14.8 million shares.

The portion set aside for qualified institutional buyers was subscribed 0.09 times and retail investors 0.01 time.

The IPO comprises fresh issue of up to Rs 4 billion and an offer for sale of up to 1,62,49,359 equity shares, including anchor portion of 63,36,439 equity shares. Price band for the offer has been set at Rs 818-821 per share.