MARKET: Indices end flat, Sun Pharma dips 7%, GSK Consumer, HUL in focus

The benchmark indices ended largely flat on Monday.


The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 36,241, up 47 points or 0.13 per cent, while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,884, up 7 points or 0.06 per cent.

In sectoral indices, the Nifty Metal index ended 2 per cent higher led by a rise in Jindal Steel & Power and Vedanta.

Among key stocks, shares of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries fell 7.6 per cent to end at Rs 455 per share on the BSE on reports that the market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), has initiated an inquiry into the affairs of pharma major on the basis of a whistle-blower complaint.

Unilever - GSK in focus

Shares of Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH) moved higher on the BSE, after their respective boards approved their merger, subject to obtaining requisite approvals from statutory authorities and shareholders.

HUL settled at Rs 1835, up 4.6 per cent, while the GSKCH ended 3.6 per cent at Rs 7,531 on the BSE.

Multinational consumer goods major Unilever on Monday confirmed it was acquiring Horlicks and other health food products in an all-equity merger of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) with publicly listed GSK consumer Healthcare India.

The merger of HUL with GSK Consumer Health will be on the basis of an exchange ratio of 4.39 HUL shares for each GSK Consumer Health share. The deal also includes the acquisition of certain other commercial operations and assets outside of India. READ MORE HERE

Global Markets

Asian shares posted their biggest monthly gain in 10 months in November on hopes US-China trade tensions would ease and on expectations of fewer US rate hikes in the coming quarters. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index gained 2.74 per cent last month, its biggest monthly gain since January. Share markets in Hong Kong, India and Indonesia led the region with gains of 6.1 per cent, 4.7 per cent and 3.9 per cent, respectively

(with Reuters input)

3:41 PM

Top sectoral gainers and losers

3:40 PM

S&P BSE Sensex: Top gainers and losers

3:34 PM

Market at close
 

The S&P BSE Sensex gained 47 points or 0.13 per cent to settle at 36,241 while NSE's NIfty50 index ended at 10,884, up just 7 points.

3:25 PM

HUL hits record high, GSK Consumer gains 7% after board approves merger

Shares of Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH) have moved higher by up to 7% on the BSE, after their respective boards approved their merger, subject to obtaining requisite approvals from statutory authorities and shareholders. HUL hit a new high of Rs 1,833, up 4.5% on the BSE, surpassing its previous high of Rs 1,808 touched on August 20, 2018, on the BSE in intra-day trade. READ MORE

3:06 PM

NEWS ALERT YES Bank appoints TS Vijayan as independent director for 5 years

3:00 PM

S&P BSE Sensex top gainers and losers

2:47 PM

Limited impact of Qatar's withdrawal from OPEC, say analysts

 

Crude oil futures are likely to witness some gains in the near term following Qatar's withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in January 2019. However, analysts say the impact on prices will remain muted as the country is a small producer in the cartel. Qatar's Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told a news conference on Monday that the country would withdraw from OPEC on January 1, 2019. Read more 

2:30 PM

PSU banks in focus; Bank of India, PNB, Bank of Baroda up over 2%

 

Shares of public sector (PSU) banks have moved higher by 4% on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) after Moody's Investors Service said the outlook for the banking system in India (Baa2 stable) over the next 12-18 months are stable due to strength of economy and weak but steady asset quality. Oriental Bank of Commerce, Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Bank of India, Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of Baroda and Canara Bank were trading 2% to 5% higher on the NSE. Read more

2:09 PM

News Impact: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare gains over 3%

2:06 PM

NEWS ALERT HUL board approves alloting 4.39 shares for 1 share of GSK Consumer

2:05 PM

NEWS ALERT Unilever to buy Horlicks and other products

2:04 PM

NEWS ALERT HUL board approves scheme of amalgamation with GSK Consumer Healthcare

2:01 PM

Market Check

Index	Current	Pt. Change	% Change
S&P BSE SENSEX	36,250.93	+56.63	+0.16
S&P BSE SENSEX 50	11,393.00	+28.93	+0.25
S&P BSE SENSEX Next 50	32,439.92	+206.29	+0.64
S&P BSE 100	11,153.83	+34.66	+0.31
S&P BSE Bharat 22 Index	3,440.38	+36.40	+1.07

1:48 PM

Here're today's top gainers on BSE500

COMPANY	LATEST	PREV CLOSE	GAIN()	GAIN(%)	VOLUME
REL. COMM.	16.35	14.27	2.08	14.58	21897713
POWER FIN.CORPN.	98.00	86.35	11.65	13.49	2478313
INFIBEAM AVENUES	48.80	44.55	4.25	9.54	2183580
SUZLON ENERGY	5.64	5.15	0.49	9.51	3740878
REC LTD	109.00	100.05	8.95	8.95	1266028

1:37 PM

Devangshu Datta Focus on companies facing the consumer

 

The Motilal Oswal Annual Wealth Creation Study always offers interesting insights. The study provides lists of the top ten wealth creators in the last five years, the most consistent wealth creators, the fastest wealth creators, biggest wealth destroyers etc. There are several takeaways for the long-term investor. One is that the most consistent wealth creators since 2008 are all consumer-facing companies. Read more