Markets cheer FDI reforms; Financials sag

The broader markets traded higher with mid-caps and small-caps gaining 0.5-0.6 per cent on the BSE.

SI Reporter Mumbai
Last Updated : Jul 17 2013 | 11:48 AM IST
Markets continued to trade higher in the late-morning session this Wednesday after the government raised foreign direct investment limit in plethora of sectors to attract precious inflows.

In a closed-door meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the government allowed 100% FDI for telecom, single-brand retail and oil & gas spaces which now awaits cabinet approval before it can be implemented.

At 11:40AM, the 30-share Sensex gained 92 points at 19,943 and the 50-share Nifty rose 20 points at 5,975 levels.

Also Read

Meanwhile, banking shares dropped for a second day after the RBI raised short-term interest rates in a bid to curb the rupee's slide.

The rupee today strengthened by 21 paise to hit a fresh two-week high of 59.10 in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market, after the government liberalised FDI limits in a dozen sectors.

The partially convertible currency traded at 59.29 versus yesterday’s close of 59.31 against the dollar.  

Asian stocks outside Japan increased, with a regional benchmark index gaining for a third day, as material producers advanced ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke’s address to the U.S. Congress today.

Japan’s Nikkei declined 0.2% to 14,570, Singapore Straits Times declined 0.3% to 3,213, China’s Shanghai Composite index was up 0.02% at 2,066 while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.2% to 21,370 today.

Among the key sectoral indices, FMCG, IT, power gained while realty, capital goods, bankex sectors dropped on the BSE.

The gainers included counters such as Dr Reddy’s rising 2%, TCS gained 1.8%, ITC rose 1.6%, NTPC and Tata Power added 1.5% each on the BSE.

The laggards were Tata Motors falling 2%, Coal India declining 1.3%, ICICI Bank and SBI dropped 1% each on the BSE.

The key notable movers included counters such as ITC is trading higher by 1.3% at Rs 365, extending its previous day’s 2.3% gain on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).  

Shares of the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) company has outperformed the market by surging 17% from its recent low of Rs 314 touched on June 24 after the company hiked the prices of Gold Flake, its largest selling cigarette brand by over 7%. The benchmark Sensex has gained 7.5%, while FMCG index rose 12.7% during the same period.

Shares of telecom services providers are in focus after the government has hiked foreign direct investment (FDI) cap in the sector 100%, which likely to attract more stable foreign capital in the economy.

Idea Cellular, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, MTNL and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) or TTML are trading higher by 1-7% on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The broader markets traded higher with mid-caps and small-caps gaining 0.5-0.6 per cent on the BSE.

The market breadth was positive. Out of 1,946 stocks traded so far, 1,035 stocks advanced while 788 stocks declined on the BSE.

More From This Section

First Published: Jul 17 2013 | 11:41 AM IST

Next Story