Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services
Market advanced and touched another historic high on firm global cues. Strength in rupee and a gradual pick up in FII buying has increased the liquidity in the market. On the other hand, focus has now shifted to US Fed policy meet, which begins tomorrow. The consensus is showing status quo in interest rate while investors are keenly looking for any announcement for trimming the balance sheet.
4:12 PM
Nifty Bank ends above 25,000
Source: NSE
4:09 PM
Nifty PSU Bank sole sectoral loser
Source: NSE
3:59 PM
Sensex heatmap at close
Source: BSE
3:55 PM
Market breadth
The breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On the BSE, 1,530 shares rose and 1,075 shares declined. A total of 195 shares were unchanged.
3:50 PM
Broader markets outperform
The BSE Midcap and the BSE Smallcap added 0.7% and 0.8%, respectively. The Nifty Midcap settled at fresh closing high to gain nearly 1% at 4,977.
3:41 PM
Markets at close
The Sensex settled at 32,423, up 151 points, while the Nifty50 closed at 10,153, up 67 points.
3:28 PM
Centrum Broking on Sundaram Finance
We retain 'Buy' on Sundaram Finance (SUF) with SOTP based TP revised upwards to Rs 2,000 (Rs 1,740 earlier). The increase in our TP follows a) revision in earnings estimates for the core - asset financing business and b) higher contribution from the subsidiaries following improved profitability and outlook therein. Strong capital position, best-in-class asset quality and superior returns profile continue to remain key strengths. Value un-locking through demerger of non-financial investments into a separate entity could lead to further upside in the stock. Prefer Sundaram Finance in the NBFC space.
3:20 PM
All but two sectors are trading in green
Source: NSE
3:15 PM
Buzzing stocks
Shares of Himachal Futuristic Communications (HFCL), HEG and MIRC Electronics are locked in their respective upper limit of circuit filters for the second straight session on the BSE.
HFCL hit an over nine-year high of Rs 35.95, up 10%, extending its 17% surge in past two trading sessions after the company said it was no longer under the Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR) mechanism. The stock was trading at its highest level since February, 2008. READ MORE
3:13 PM
Volatility index
India VIX, an index to measure the volatility in the markets, eased over 2% to 11.51.
Source: NSE
3:08 PM
US oil prices hit $50
US crude oil prices rose above $50 per barrel and were near last week’s multi-month highs as the number of US rigs drilling for new production fell and refineries continued to restart after getting knocked out by Hurricane Harvey.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were trading up 41 cents, or 0.8 percent, at $50.30 by 0852 GMT, near the three-month high of $50.50 it reached last Thursday. Brent crude futures, the benchmark for oil prices outside the United States, were at $55.91 a barrel, up 29 cents, and also not far from the near five-month high of $55.99 touched on Thursday.
3:06 PM
European markets trade higher
European markets rose to six-year high as global investors returned to equities amid cooling geopolitical tensions. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up by around 0.5%, Germany's DAX, Britain's FTSE and France's CAC 40 added 0.6%, 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively.
2:59 PM
HDFC Securities on Va Tech Wabag
With ~2.3x Order book to revenue, Va Tech Wabag offers strong revenue visibility. We expect revenues to grow at 17% CAGR over FY17‐19E driven by faster execution. EBITDA margin expansion of 50bps over the next two years should lead to EBITDA CAGR of 19%. We expect earnings to witness 41% CAGR FY17‐19E led by better operating performance and improvement in overseas operations.
At CMP of Rs 636, the stock is trading at 16x of its FY19E EPS and ~8x EV/EBITDA. We recommend investors to buy the stock between Rs 585-636 with target of Rs 780 over the next 4 quarters. We have valued the stock based upon ~20x FY19E earnings and 9.5x EV/EBITDA.
2:45 PM
Nifty holds on to morning gains, trades above 10,150
The benchmark indices extended gains for the eighth straight session on Monday with the Nifty50 settling at its record closing high thanks to gains in banking and auto stocks.
The index rallied as much as 86 points to touch its lifetime high of 10,171 in intraday trade, while it settled at 10,153, its closing high level.
The Sensex, meanwhile, remained 262 points away from its lifetime high of 32,686 level on the closing basis.
Overseas, European markets rose to their six-week highs, while Asian markets hit decade highs as investors regained confidence after the weekend passed with no new provocation by North Korea.
For markets, the main event will be the US Federal Reserve’s meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, where it is likely to take another step toward policy normalization amid what is rapidly becoming a global trend.
 "Nifty hits fresh closing high, ends above 10,150; Sensex up 151 points")
