Key benchmark indices held firm in early afternoon trade as the rupee's surge against the dollar and gains in Asian stocks boosted investor sentiment. The S&P BSE Sensex was up 281.93 points or 1.44%, off about 25 points from the day's high and up close to 215 points from the day's low. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. Most Asian shares turned higher on Thursday, 3 October 2013, shaking off a weak start following an encouraging reading on non-manufacturing activity in China.
Indian stocks got additional boost from expectations that the US government's partial shutdown could lead to the US Federal Reserve postponing tapering of monetary stimulus to the US economy. The US government's partial shutdown has sparked concern it will slow economic growth in the world's biggest economy. ADP's report on Wenesday, 2 October 2013, of weaker-than-expected growth in US private-sector jobs in September also fuelled expectations that the Fed will hold off on reducing the amount of monetary stimulus in the near future. Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren, a consistent backer of record stimulus who votes on policy this year, said on Wednesday, 2 October 2013, that the central bank refrained from tapering its bond purchases last month because growth was lower than forecast and fiscal policy posed a risk to the outlook. 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 amid concerns about the strength of the economic recovery. Fed's bond-buying program has been a source of liquidity for most Asian and emerging markets this year.
Index heavyweight and cigarette maker ITC dropped. Among IT majors, HCL technologies scaled record high. Cement stocks rose on reports that cement prices rose sharply by Rs 20 to Rs 50 per bag in various parts of the country during the last 10 days of September 2013. Tyre shares were up across the board. Realty stocks gained for the second day in a row. Zee Entertainment Enterprises surged after the company announced the appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer.
The market edged higher in early trade on firm Asian stocks. The market extended initial gains and hit fresh intraday high in morning trade. The market strengthened further and hit fresh intraday high in mid-morning trade. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, and the 50-unit CNX Nifty, both, hit their highest level in almost a week. Firmness continued on the bourses in early afternoon trade.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee strengthened against the dollar tracking global dollar weakness. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 61.84, sharply higher than its close of 62.46/47 on Tuesday, 1 October 2013. Indian financial markets were closed on Wednesday, 2 October 2013, on account of Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti.
At 12:20 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 281.93 points or 1.44% to 19,799.08. The index jumped 306.80 points at the day's high of 19,823.95 in mid-morning trade, its highest level since 27 September 2013. The index gained 66.82 points at the day's low of 19,583.97 in early trade.
The CNX Nifty was up 98.55 points or 1.71% to 5,878.60. The index hit a high of 5,884.50 in intraday trade, its highest level since 27 September 2013. The index hit a low of 5,802.70 in intraday trade.
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The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On BSE, 1,329 shares rose and 745 shares fell. A total of 142 shares were unchanged.
Among the 30-share Sensex pack, 27 stocks rose and only three fell. Sesa Sterlite (up 5.64%), TCS (up 4.47%) and Tata Steel (up 3.66%), surged.
Index heavyweight and cigarette maker ITC dropped 1.36%.
Cement stocks rose on reports that cement prices rose sharply by Rs 20 to Rs 50 per bag in various parts of the country during the last 10 days of September 2013, after a steady downtrend/subdued movement from August 2013 till the first half of September 2013. Ambuja Cement (up 3.77%), ACC (up 2.93%), and UltraTech Cement (up 4.46%), gained.
Shares of private sector bank Axis Bank spurted 7.48%.
HCL technologies rose 3.49% to Rs 1,109 after hitting record high of Rs 1,113.30 in intraday trade.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises surged 6.42%. The company said today that the Audit Committee of the board of directors of the company has approved appointment of Mr. Mihir Modi as Chief Financial Officer of the company, in place of Mr. Hitesh Vakil. Mr. Mihir Modi will take charge as Chief Financial Officer of the company with effect from 10 October 2013.
Realty stocks gained for the second day in a row. DLF (up 2.5%), D B Realty (up 3.07%), Sobha Developers (up 1.2%), HDIL (up 4.92%), and Unitech (up 4.11%) gained.
Tyre shares were up across the board. Apollo Tyres (up 1.61%), JK Tyre & Industries (up 6.01%), MRF (up 3.57%), and CEAT (up 2.87%), gained.
Steel Strips Wheels spurted 13.94% after the company said its total wheel sales rose 9% to 10.05 lakh units in September 2013 over September 2012. The company announced the sales numbers during trading hours today, 3 October 2013. Steel Strips Wheels (SSWL) said that the September 2013 sales are its highest ever monthly sale so far.
Passenger Car/MUV wheels sales rose 8% to 4.18 lakh units in September 2013 over August 2013. Sales declined 14% to 4.18 lakh units in September 2013 over September 2012 due to base effect of car segment sale which will improve going forward with new business starts and ramp of existing businesses, the company said. The car segment growth is also expected to improve further with the company's portfolio doing exceedingly good and getting very high customer acceptance, it added. SSWL said it enjoys 100% supply to Honda amaze, Hyundai i10 Grande and Renault Duster. Few new passenger car businesses will start by December 2013 where SSWL enjoys 100% supply which will further boost volumes, the company said in a statement.
The tractor segment sales grew strong with a growth of 43% and the trend is expected to continue and improve the profitability going ahead, SSWL said. On the back of a very good monsoon this segment will continue to drive numbers in second half of FY 2014, it added.
Two and three wheeler segment sales grew 58% in line with the company's guidance and the robust pace will continue with few more new business starts and ramp up of existing models, SSWL said in a statement.
Exports surged 107% to 1.49 lakh units in September 2013 over September 2012. Going forward the company looks to further add volumes in this segment based on start of new businesses that the company had bagged in the past, it said.
With the September sale, the second quarter (July-September 2013) sale stood at 28.54 lakh units as against 25.27 lakh units for the same period last year, SSWL said. The second quarter numbers beat the company's guidance of 27.50 lakh provided in the month of July by a healthy margin, SSWL said.
Commercial vehicle (CV) segment is limping in slow lane and the company's new developments in this segment will start delivering in the third quarter, SSWL said. This along with expected pick up in CV segment in balance months of this fiscal will prove to be a very valuable kicker in terms of sales and also EBITA accretion, the company said in a statement.
The capacity utilization has improved considerably over last 6 months and currently the company's Dappar plant is at 90% utilization and Chennai is operating at 60% utilization, SSWL said. Chennai plant is expected to move further towards 70-75% towards end FY 2014 with support from exports as well as domestic business, the company said.
SSWL has given a forward guidance of 30 lakh wheel sales for Q3 FY 2014. SSWL said that the company is setting a stiff target and expects to achieve it on the back of growth across all segments.
Advanta was locked at 10% upper circuit at Rs 119.50 on BSE after the company after trading hours on Tuesday, 1 October 2013, announced the appointment of Mr. Claudio Torres as Chief Executive Officer of the company with immediate effect. Claudio, an MBA from Tulane University, USA, has rich and varied experience of 23 years in the international agricultural inputs/seeds industry, Advanta said in a statement. Prior to joining Advanta, Claudio was working with Monsanto, managing seed businesses in various leadership roles in several geographies, Advanta said.
Most Asian shares turned higher on Thursday, 3 October 2013, shaking off a weak start following an encouraging reading on non-manufacturing activity in China. Key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia rose 0.73% to 1.73%. Key benchmark indices in Japan and Singapore fell 0.09% to 0.21%. Markets in South Korea were closed for the National Foundation Day holiday. Markets in mainland China are closed till 7 October 2013 for National Day holidays.
China's official non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to a six-month high of 55.4 in September from 53.9 in August, adding to a growing roster of evidence that China's economy has turned a corner in recent months.
The Philippines won a rating upgrade from Moody's Investors Service, completing the nation's ascent to investment rank as President Benigno Aquino leads a growth resurgence that's outpacing the rest of Southeast Asia. The rating on the nation's government debt was raised one level to Baa3, Moody's said in a statement today. The outlook on the rating is positive. The upgrade puts the Philippines on par with Turkey and Spain.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could fall 31 points at the opening bell on Thursday, 3 October 2013. US stocks fell on Wednesday as investors watched for progress on ending an impasse over federal spending that shut down the government a second day. The US government has been in partial shutdown for two days after lawmakers failed to agree on a federal budget.
A meeting between President Barack Obama and congressional leaders ended Wednesday night with no deal to re-open the US government. House Speaker John Boehner told reporters that Obama repeated he wouldn't negotiate about passing a funding bill. With the Senate gaveled out for the day, the stalemate continued and meant the government shutdown would continue for a third day on Thursday.
A report showed companies added fewer workers than projected in September, indicating the job market is struggling to gain momentum. The 166,000 increase in employment followed a revised 159,000 rise in August that was smaller than initially estimated, according to the ADP Research Institute in Roseland, New Jersey.
Meanwhile, the US is creeping up against its debt limit. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Tuesday night reiterated that the government will lose the ability to borrow on Oct. 17.
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 amid concerns about the strength of the economic recovery.
Moody's Investors Service lowered its outlook on Brazil's sovereign rating to stable from positive, citing deteriorating debt and investment ratios and evidence the economy is going through a low-growth period. "Even though there are signs that the Brazilian economy may be starting to recover, Moody's view is that, if and when the upturn materializes, it is unlikely that it will be strong enough to restore a positive trend in Brazil credit metrics," Moody's said in a statement dated 2 October 2013. Moody's affirmed Brazil's Baa2 government bond rating.
In Europe, the European Central Bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low on Wednesday, 2 October 2013, as the euro area recovers from its longest-ever recession. The Governing Council meeting in Paris on 2 October 2013 left the main refinancing rate at 0.5% for a fifth month after cutting it by a quarter point in May. The central bank was "particularly attentive" to any moves in market rates which could threaten economic recovery or push inflation too low, Mario Draghi told a news conference.
In Italy, Silvio Berlusconi said he would back the government of Prime Minister Enrico Letta in a confidence vote on Wednesday, a surprise move that has allowed the coalition government to avoid a collapse.
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