A bout of initial volatility was witnessed as key benchmark indices trimmed losses after a weak start. The 50-unit CNX Nifty fell below the psychological 6,000 mark. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 107.41 points or 0.53%, up close to 100 points from the day's low and off about 10 points from the day's high. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive.
Bank stocks extended Friday's losses as the Reserve Bank of India, in a surprise decision, raised its key policy rate viz. the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 7.5% from 7.25% after a monetary policy review on Friday, 20 September 2013, and as the central bank retained hawkish tone at the latest monetary policy review.
The market may remain volatile this week as traders roll over positions in the futures & options (F&O) segment from the near month September 2013 series to October 2013 series ahead of the expiry of the September 2013 F&O contracts on Thursday, 26 September 2013.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee dropped against the dollar. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 62.465, weaker than its close of 62.23/24 on Friday, 20 September 2013. Rupee depreciation fuels inflation, increases import bill and current account deficit. It also increases the government's spending on fuel subsidies, potentially widening the fiscal deficit.
At 9:30 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 107.41 points or 0.53% to 20,156.30. The index declined 206.60 points at the day's low of 20,057.10 in opening trade. The index fell 100.54 points at the day's high of 20,163.17 in early trade.
The CNX Nifty was down 38.25 points or 0.64% to 5,973.85. The index hit a low of 5,945.60 in intraday trade. The index hit a high of 5,973.90.
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The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On BSE, 502 shares rose and 453 shares dropped. A total of 48 shares were unchanged.
Among the 30-share Sensex pack, 15 stocks fell and rest of them rose. HDFC (down 3.31%), Bharti Airtel (down 1.83%) and ONGC (down 1.76%), declined.
Sesa Goa declined 1.06%. The company after market hours on Friday, 20 September 2013, said that the name of the company has been changed to Sesa Sterlite following approval by the Registrar of Companies, Goa on 18 September 2013. The change of name is consequent to the approval of the Scheme of amalgamation and arrangement amongst Sterlite Industries (India), Madras Aluminium Company, Sterlite Energy, Vedanta Aluminium and Sesa Goa and their respective shareholders and creditors and the Scheme of Amalgamation of Ekaterina with the company and their respective shareholders and creditors.
Hindalco Industries rose 0.48% to Rs 114.80. The company after market hours on Friday, 20 September 2013, said that the committee of the board of directors of the company at its meeting held on Friday, 20 September 2013, has allotted 15 crore equity shares of Re 1 each at a premium of Rs 143.35 per share to the promoter group companies subsequent to the promoters exercising warrants and paid the balance 75% of the purchase price.
It may be recalled that the company's board had on 22 March 2012 allotted 15 crore warrants on preferential basis to promoters group companies under Sebi (Issue of Capital & Disclosure Requirements) Regulations 2009 at Rs 144.35 per share. As per Sebi Regulation, the promoters had paid 25% of the purchase price at the time of allotment of warrants.
Bank stocks extended Friday's losses as the Reserve Bank of India, in a surprise decision, raised its key policy rate viz. the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 7.5% from 7.25% after a monetary policy review on Friday, 20 September 2013, and as the central bank retained hawkish tone at the latest monetary policy review.
PSU banking major State Bank of India dropped 2.95%. The state-run bank on 18 September 2013 said it has raised the base rate by 10 basis points (bps) to 9.8% per annum (pa) from 9.7% and the benchmark prime lending rate by 10 bps to 14.55% from 14.45% with effect from 19 September 2013. The bank also raised interest rates for retail term deposits.
Among other PSU bank stocks, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank shed 1.82% to 3.29%.
Among private bank stocks, ICICI Bank (down 2.6%) and HDFC Bank (down 3.04%), declined.
Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan, Governor, Reserve Bank of India, said in a statement on Friday, 20 September 2013, that the calibrated withdrawal of the exceptional measures that the RBI had taken since mid-July to tighten liquidity with a view to dampening volatility in the foreign exchange market will provide a boost to growth, reduce the financing distortions that are emerging in the market and reduce the strain on corporate and bank balance sheets. In an attempt to tame high inflation, which is partly fueled by the currency's recent slump against the dollar, the RBI raised its policy rate viz. the repo rate after a monetary policy review on Friday, 20 September 2013. The central bank, however, eased some of the liquidity-tightening measures it had taken to prop up the rupee. The RBI reduced the rate at which it lends funds to banks through its marginal standing facility, by three quarters of a percentage point, to 9.5%. The marginal standing facility is an emergency funding facility for banks. On net, the RBI's latest measures will reduce the cost of bank financing substantially while allowing the RBI to take an appropriately precautionary stance on inflation, Dr. Rajan said on Friday, 20 September 2013.
The minimum daily maintenance of the CRR prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been brought down from 99% of the requirement to 95% from the fortnight beginning 21 September 2013. The timing and direction of further actions on exceptional measures will be contingent upon exchange market stability, and can be two-way, the RBI said after a monetary policy review. However, any further change in the minimum daily maintenance of the CRR is not contemplated, the RBI said. The RBI kept the cash reserve ratio (CRR) unchanged at 4%.
"Over the next few weeks, together with the government, we will take a close look at corporate distress and bank NPAs to see how we can accelerate the process of resolution", Dr. Rajan said. The RBI Governor said that the RBI has implemented the full liberalization of bank branching, with some safeguards to encourage inclusion.
Most Asian stocks rose on Monday, 23 September 2013, after a private measure of Chinese manufacturing jumped more than forecast in September. Key benchmark indices in China, South Korea and Taiwan rose 0.44% to 0.92%. Key benchmark indices in Indonesia and Singapore were off 0.79% to 0.8%. Trading on Hong Kong markets was delayed due to a storm and Japanese markets were closed for a holiday. A powerful typhoon hit Hong Kong and the southern China coast on Monday, killing at least 20 people on the mainland, crippling power lines and causing flooding and gale force winds.
A Chinese manufacturing index rose to a six-month high in September, signaling that a rebound in the world's second-largest economy is gaining steam. The preliminary reading of 51.2 for a Purchasing Managers' Index released today by HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics. The gauge was at 50.1 in August.
US stocks fell on Friday, 20 September 2013, after Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said that the Fed could make a small stimulus reduction at its next meeting in October. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) holds a two-day policy meeting on 29-30 October 2013.
On 18 September 2013, the Fed surprised economists and investors with its decision to delay scaling back its stimulus. Kansas City Fed President Esther George on Friday, 20 September 2013, said markets were ready for reduced stimulus to begin, and the central bank's failure to follow through on expectations hurt its credibility on Wall Street.
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