Weakness during the latter part of the trading session pulled key benchmark indices lower as traders rolled over positions in the futures & options (F&O) segment from July 2014 series to August 2014 series. The near-month July 2014 F&O contracts expired today, 31 July 2014. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market turned negative from positive in late trade. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, provisionally settled below the psychological 26,000 mark as concerns about the health of Europe's banking sector pulled European stocks lower and as US index futures indicated a weak start for US stocks later in the global day. The Sensex was provisionally down 210.25 points or 0.81% at 25,877.17. Banking and cement stocks led the decline. ICICI Bank fell in choppy trade as the bank's net non-performing assets ratio rose in Q1 June 2014. Maruti Suzuki India edged lower in volatile trade after announcing strong Q1 results. HCL Technologies dropped on profit taking as the company's EBITDA declined on sequential basis in Q4 June 2014. NTPC dropped on weak Q1 results. Until afternoon trade, the key benchmark indices moved in a relatively narrow range.
The market sentiment was affected adversely after provisional data showed foreign investors were net sellers of Indian stocks during the previous trading session on Wednesday, 30 July 2014. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 381.66 crore on Wednesday, 30 July 2014, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.
As per provisional figures, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 210.25 points or 0.81% to 25,877.17. The index fell 233.73 points at the day's low of 25,853.69 in late trade. The index rose 31.46 points at the day's high of 26,118.88 in mid-morning trade, its highest level since 28 July 2014.
The CNX Nifty was down 70.10 points or 0.9% to 7,721.30, as per provisional figures. The index hit a low of 7,711.15 in intraday trade. The index hit a high of 7,791.85 in intraday trade.
The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 2893 crore, lower than Rs 3253.14 crore on Wednesday, 30 July 2014.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market turned negative from positive in late trade. On BSE, 1,489 shares fell and 1,430 shares rose. A total of 120 shares were unchanged.
More From This Section
The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 16.68 points or 0.18% at 9,188.19. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 24.49 points or 0.25% at 9,989.42. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
HDFC (down 2%), Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) (down 1.73%) and Tata Power Company (down 1.61%) edged lower from the Sensex pack.
Maruti Suzuki India shed 0.86% to Rs 2,530 after announcing Q1 results. The stock hit high of Rs 2.589 and low of Rs 2,513. The company's net profit rose 20.7% to Rs 762.30 crore on 10.8% rise in net sales (net of excise) to Rs 11073.50 crore in Q1 June 2014 over Q1 June 2013. The car major said that cost reduction and localization initiatives, growth in volumes and favourable foreign exchange helped improve the bottom line during the quarter. The result was announced during market hours.
Maruti Suzuki India's total sales rose 12.6% to 299,894 vehicles in Q1 June 2014 over Q1 June 2013. Sales in the domestic market rose 10.3% to 270,643 units in Q1 June 2014 over Q1 June 2013. Exports rose 38.7% to 29,251 units in Q1 June 2014 over Q1 June 2013.
Maruti Suzuki India said that the company's cost reduction and localization initiatives, growth in volumes and favourable foreign exchange helped improve the bottomline during Q1 June 2014.
HCL Technologies dropped 2.53% to Rs 1,557 after announcing its Q4 results. The stock hit high of Rs 1,597 and low of Rs 1,541.10. The company's consolidated net profit as per US GAAP rose 12.9% to Rs 1834 crore on 0.9% growth rise in revenue to Rs 8424 crore in Q4 June 2014 over Q3 March 2014. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) fell 0.7% to Rs 2216 crore in revenue to Rs 8424 crore in Q4 June 2014 over Q3 March 2014. EBITDA margin declined to 26.3% in Q4 June 2014, from 26.7% in Q3 March 2014. The result was announced before market hours.
NTPC dropped 1.98% to Rs 145.05 on weak Q1 results. The stock hit high of Rs 149.80 and low of Rs 144.35. The company's net profit fell 12.89% to Rs 2201.20 crore on 15.21% rise in total income to Rs 1885.14 crore in Q1 June 2014 over Q1 June 2013. The company announced results during market hours.
ICICI Bank fell 1.4% to Rs 1,468.70 after the bank at the time of announcing Q1 results said its net non-performing assets rose in Q1 June 2014. The stock hit high of Rs 1,505 and low of Rs 1,465.40. The bank's net profit rose 16.75% to Rs 2655.30 crore on 13.26% rise in total income to Rs 14,616.71 crore in Q1 June 2014 over Q1 June 2013. The net non-performing assets ratio was 0.87% as on 30 June 2014, higher than 0.82% as on 31 March 2014 and 0.69% as on 30 June 2013. The result was announced during market hours.
The bank's provision coverage ratio, computed in accordance with RBI guidelines, was 68.4% at 30 June 2014. Net loans to companies whose facilities have been restructured stood at Rs 11265 crore as on 30 June 2014, compared to Rs 10558 crore as on 31 March 2014 and Rs 5915 crore as on 30 June 2013.
The bank's net interest income increased 18% to Rs 4492 crore in Q1 June 2014 over Q1 June 2013. Non-interest income increased by 15% to Rs 2850 crore in Q1 June 2014 over Q1 June 2013. Cost-to-income ratio reduced to 38.4% in Q1 June 2014 from 39.4% in Q1 June 2013. Provisions and contingencies rose 22.40% to Rs 726.08 crore in Q1 June 2014 over Q1 June 2013.
Many other bank stocks declined after ICICI Bank's Q1 results. Among private sector banks, IndusInd Bank (down 0.54%), HDFC Bank (down 1.16%), Yes Bank (down 0.05%), and Axis Bank (down 2.39%), declined.
Kotak Mahindra Bank dropped 1.95% to Rs 955.60. The stock reversed direction after hitting record high of Rs 979.35 in intraday trade.
Among PSU bank stocks, State Bank of India (SBI) (down 1.26%), Canara Bank (down 0.3%), Union Bank of India (down 1.03%), Bank of Baroda (down 2.71%) and Punjab National Bank (down 1.76%) declined.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged lower against the dollar. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 60.485, compared with its close of 60.07 on Wednesday, 30 July 2014.
A group of World Trade Organization (WTO) members has reportedly informally discussed adopting a global overhaul of customs rules without India if New Delhi goes ahead with threats to block the deal. India has demanded the deal, which must be approved in Geneva today, 31 July 2014, be accompanied by a parallel agreement giving it more freedom to subsidise and stockpile food grains than currently allowed under WTO rules.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday, 30 July 2014, said that the government is yet to decide the implementation date of the general anti-avoidance rules (GAAR) and whether any changes are needed to the existing provisions of GAAR. GAAR is scheduled to come into effect from 1 April 2015 or assessment year 2016-17. GAAR announced by the previous government had sparked alarm among foreign investors because of provisions that included tightening rules on investments from countries that have double taxation treaties with India. The implementation of GAAR was deferred by two years until 1 April 2015.
European stocks edged lower today, 31 July 2014, as shares of Banco Espito Santo SA in Lisbon sank as much as 50% and as Adidas AG lowered its profit forecast. Key benchmark indices in UK, Germany and France were down 0.24% to 1.01%.
Concerns about the health of the region's banking sector weighed on European stocks, as shares of Banco Espito Santo SA in Lisbon sank as much as 50%. The shares had been suspended after the Portuguese lender reported a record second-quarter loss. The loss came as the bank's troubled parent company, Espirito Santo International, found ways to use the bank to raise funds that are largely unrecoverable.
Euro-area inflation unexpectedly slowed in July to the weakest in almost five years, underscoring the European Central Bank's concerns that the economy is too feeble to drive price growth. Inflation was 0.4% compared with 0.5 percent in June, the European Union's statistics office in Luxembourg said today.
The unemployment rate in the euro area fell in June as the currency bloc gradually shakes off the legacy of the region's debt crisis and longest-ever recession. The jobless rate dropped to 11.5% from 11.6% in May, the European Union's statistics office in Luxembourg said today.
German unemployment fell for the first time in three months in a sign that Europe's largest economy is gathering pace after a second-quarter slowdown. The number of people out of work dropped a seasonally adjusted 12,000 to 2.9 million in July, the Nuremberg-based Federal Labor Agency said today.
Asian stocks were mixed today, 31 July 2014, after global credit rating agency Standard & Poor's declared Argentina in default on its foreign-currency obligations after the government missed a deadline for paying interest on $13 billion of restructured bonds. Key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong and Singapore were up 0.1% to 0.93%. Key benchmark indices in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan were off 0.16% to 1.39%.
A breakdown in talks between Argentina and US creditors late Wednesday has sent the country tumbling into its second default in 13 years.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could fall 100 points at the opening bell on Thursday, 31 July 2014.
The Federal Reserve after two-day policy meeting on Wednesday, 30 July, said it would reduce its purchases of mortgage and Treasury bonds by $10 billion to $25 billion monthly from $35 billion earlier, as widely expected. The Fed retained a dovish monetary policy stance. To support continued progress toward maximum employment and price stability, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) reaffirmed its view that a highly accommodative stance of monetary policy remains appropriate, the FOMC said in a statement.
Powered by Capital Market - Live News