Sensex ends 145 pts down, Nifty at 10,501; PNB crashes over 10%

All that happened in markets today.

The benchmark indices ended lower on Wednesday taking cues from its key Asian peers.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 34,156, down 145 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,501, down 39 points.

Among stocks, Punjab National Bank (PNB) declined 10% on BSE during the day after the state-owned bank said that it had detected some fraudulent and unauthorised transactions worth about Rs 1.13 trillion ($1,771.69 million) at one of its branches in Mumbai. The development triggered a fall in most other banking stocks, with the Nifty Bank index slipping around 5%.

In global markets, Asian stocks ended mixed in cautious trade Wednesday ahead of Lunar New Year holidays and the US inflation report due later in the day, which may provide further cues on interest-rate changes in the world's largest economy.

Japanese shares hit a four-month low as the dollar slid to a 15-month low against the yen and data showed the country's GDP grew at a slower than expected 0.5 percent annual pace in the fourth quarter, marking the eighth straight quarter of expansion.

The Nikkei average dropped 90.51 points or 0.43 per cent to 21,154.17, the lowest closing level since October 12, 2018. The broader Topix index closed 0.82 per cent lower at 1,702.72 amid across-the-board selling.

Chinese stocks eked out modest gains in thin trade ahead of the week-long Lunar New Year holiday starting on Thursday. The benchmark Shanghai Composite index rose 14.20 points or 0.45 per cent to 3,199.16. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up as much as 2.5 per cent in late trade after having shed over 9 per cent last week.

(with Reuters inputs)

3:40 PM

Top Sectoral losers: Nifty PSU Banks cracks nearly 5%

3:37 PM

Sectoral Trend

3:34 PM

Sensex losers and gainers

3:33 PM

Market at close

The benchmark indices ended in negative on Wednesday, taking cues from its key Asian peers. Shares of Punjab National Bank crashed 10% after the bank reported some 'fraudulent and unauthorised' transactions worth about $1.77 billion at one of its branches in Mumbai.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 34,156, down 145 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,501, down 39 points.

3:18 PM

NCC surges 9% on strong Q3 results

 

NCC has rallied 9% to Rs 130 on BSE after the company reported 72% year on year (Y-o-Y) growth in net profit at Rs 1,004 million in December quarter (Q3FY18), on back of healthy operational performance. The construction & engineering company had profit of Rs 583 million during the same quarter last fiscal.

 

However, the operational revenue during the quarter declined 2.7% to Rs 18,507 million from Rs 19,037 million in the corresponding quarter of previous fiscal. READ MORE

3:10 PM

Idea Cellular board approves equity issue of up to Rs 35-bn through QIP

 

Telecom major Idea Cellular today said its Board has accorded final approval for issuing equity shares for up to Rs 3,500 crore through Qualified Institution Placement (QIP) route.

 

"The Board of Directors at its meeting today has accorded final approval for issuance of equity shares for an amount not exceeding Rs 3,500 crore by way of QIP to the eligible investors...," Idea Cellular said in a BSE filing. READ MORE

3:00 PM

Market Check

S&P BSE Sensex	34,246.33		-0.16%
Nifty 50	10,540.65		0.01%
S&P BSE 200	4,624.65		-0.02%
Nifty 500	9,346.25		-0.02%
S&P BSE Mid-Cap	16,918.82		0.39%
S&P BSE Small-Cap	18,531.96		0.37%

2:45 PM

Mittal steers clear of trouble, sells stake in KSS ahead of Essar Steel bid

ArcelorMittal Chairman L N Mittal has sold his 33% personal holding in KazStroyService (KSS), an oil infrastructure provider company based in Kazakhstan, in an effort to put to rest questions on his eligibility to bid for stressed assets. KSS owns 100% in KSS Petron, which became a non-performing asset (NPA) in 2015. READ MORE

2:32 PM

Sectoral watch: Insurance

Merger of three PSU general insurers likely before next fiscal-end

The merger of the three public sector general insurance companies -- National Insurance Company (NIC), United India Insurance and Oriental Insurance Company -- is likely to be completed before the end of the next financial year.

 

The chiefs of the three companies will have their first meeting with the government on this issue on the 16th of this month. READ MORE

2:17 PM

News: Coal India target for power sector pegged at 513 mn tonnes for next fiscal

Coal India will supply 513 million tonnes of coal and offer 12 million tonnes more via e-auction to the power sector in 2018-19 (FY19). The remaining 90 million tonnes of the sector’s demand will come from Singareni Collieries and captive coal blocks, Coal India executives said.
 

After facing a deficit in the last quarter, the power ministry has asked Coal India and Indian Railways to ensure a supply of 615 million tonnes annually, with 288 rakes moving every day. The deficit, according to the ministry, had led to a shortage of power generation. READ MORE

2:10 PM

Investing strategy: For regular income, systematic withdrawal plan is more tax-efficient option

From April 1, mutual fund investors who had chosen the dividend option in equity funds will have to pay a flat 10 per cent tax on the payouts they receive. Those who don't need the money should immediately shift to the growth option and redeem only when there is a need. Those who chose the dividend option because they needed a regular income should shift to a systematic withdrawal plan (SWP), which is a more tax-efficient option. READ MORE

1:59 PM

Sectoral Trend

1:52 PM

Must Read: Ugly face of capitalism

It speaks volumes for the reputation of Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, promoters of Fortis Healthcare and Religare Enterprises, that shares of both the companies soared following news that the brothers had stepped down from the board of the former.

 

The two, respectively chairman and executive vice-chairman of Fortis, had opted to step down following a high court ruling upholding a $550-million award by a Singapore arbitration tribunal to Japanese drug maker Daiichi Sankyo against the brothers for concealing facts when they sold group company Ranbaxy in 2007. READ MORE

1:33 PM

Scam worth Rs 110 bn: PNB detects fraud transactions; stock price drops 7%

 

In what may turn out to be one of the biggest scams in Indian corporate history, Punjab National Bank has detected fraudulent transactions worth around Rs 110 billion from one of its Mumbai branch allegedly by diamond merchant Nirav Modi, his relatives and business partner Mehul Choksi during this year.

 

PNB share prices fell around 7% in the early trade on Wednesday morning after the bank reported fraudulent transactions worth $1.77 billion to Bombay Stock Exchange. READ MORE

1:31 PM

Index watch

S&P BSE Sensex	34,327.02		0.08%
Nifty 50	10,555.30		0.15%
S&P BSE 200	4,638.24		0.28%
Nifty 500	9,373.55		0.27%
S&P BSE Mid-Cap	16,977.50		0.74%
S&P BSE Small-Cap	18,610.26		0.80%