Key benchmark indices edged lower in early trade as weakness in Asian stocks dampened sentiment. The S&P BSE Sensex was down 76.98 points or 0.38%, up close to 45 points from the day's low and off about 40 points from the day's high. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive.
Lupin rose ahead of its Q3 results today, 3 February 2014. Grasim Industries dropped on weak Q3 results. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) declined after the company reported weak auto sales in January 2014. IDFC rose on good Q3 results. Tata Power Company gained after the company said it has decided to exit from PT Arutmin Indonesia (Arutmin) to get additional cash flow and to reduce its consolidated debt amid facing under-recovery challenges in its Mundra ultra mega power plant (UMPP) operations and cash flow concerns.
Asian stocks fell on Monday after a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing growth added to concern the global economic recovery is faltering.
The market sentiment was also affected adversely by data showing that foreign funds remained net sellers of Indian stocks on Friday, 31 January 2014. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 652.97 crore on Friday, 31 January 2014, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.
At 9:34 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 76.98 points or 0.38% to 20,436.87. The index fell 121.89 points at the day's low of 20,391.96 in early trade. The index declined 33.50 points at the day's high of 20,480.35 in early trade.
The CNX Nifty was down 19.85 points or 0.33% to 6,069.65. The index hit a low of 6,052.20 in intraday trade. The index hit a high of 6,071.50 in intraday trade.
More From This Section
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On BSE, 469 shares gained and 371 shares fell. A total of 55 shares were unchanged.
Among the 30-share Sensex pack, 19 stocks declined and rest of them rose. Bharti Airtel (down 1.71%), Tata Steel (down 1.42%) and ICICI Bank (down 1.18%) edged lower from the Sensex pack.
Lupin rose 1.24% ahead of its Q3 results today, 3 February 2014.
Grasim Industries dropped 1.82% on weak Q3 results. The company's consolidated net profit fell 39.55% to Rs 331.93 crore on 3.86% rise in total income to Rs 7226.18 crore in Q3 December 2013 over Q3 December 2012. The result was announced on Saturday, 1 February 2014.
The company's performance was constrained due to subdued economic condition.
The company in its outlook said that the current difficult market conditions have affected the performance of both the businesses. The performance of cement business should improve with the expected recovery post general elections in India and of VSF business based on global rebalancing of excess capacity. The commissioning of major projects by the company will help improve volume and profitability
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) declined 1.07% after the company reported weak auto sales in January 2014. M&M on Saturday, 1 February 2014 said its total auto sales declined 13.77% to 42,685 units in January 2014 over January 2013. Domestic sales declined 15.71% to 40,324 units in January 2014 over January 2013. Exports surged 42.05% to 2,361 units in January 2014 over January 2013.
The sales of Passenger Vehicles segment declined 25.46% to 19,792 units in January 2014 over January 2013. The four-wheeler commercial vehicle sales rose 4.49% to 15,100 units in January 2014 over January 2013. Three-wheeler sales declined 18.94% to 4,710 units in January 2014 over January 2013.
Commenting on the monthly performance, Pravin Shah, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, M&M said, "The first month of 2014 did not witness any improvement in the overall industry performance and the situation remains subdued. The recent repo rate hike will in coming months escalate the rate of interest on car loans impacting consumer sentiment. We hope the upcoming Auto Expo which will showcase new products and technology, will provide a trigger in giving a much needed boost to the auto industry and overall sentiment".
Separately, the company on Saturday, 1 February 2014 said its total tractor sales rose 15% to 20,109 units in January 2014 over January 2013. Domestic tractor sales rose 18% to 19,389 units in January 2014 over January 2013. Exports declined 33% to 720 units in January 2014 over January 2013.
Commenting on the monthly performance, Rajesh Jejurikar, Chief Executive, Tractor and Farm Mechanization, M&M said, "We have achieved a cumulative domestic growth till January 2014 of 23%. This is primarily due to a bumper Kharif crop and the anticipation of a good Rabi crop. We expect the good run to continue for the rest of the quarter".
Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) rose 0.54%. The company reported 10.3% decline in total sales at 102,416 vehicles in January 2014 over January 2013. Domestic sales declined 6.3% to 96,569 units in January 2014 over January 2013. Export sales declined 47.7% to 5,847 units in January 2014 over January 2013. The company unveiled January sales numbers on Saturday, 1 February 2014.
Tata Motors fell 0.81%. The company on Saturday, 1 February 2014 said its total sales (including exports) in January 2014 were 40,481 vehicles. The company's domestic sales of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles for January 2014 were 36,657 units. The company's sales from exports were 3,824 units in January 2014.
TVS Motor Company rose 3.16% after the company on Saturday, 1 February 2014 said its total sales rose 6% to 186,313 units in January 2014 over January 2013.
The company's total exports surged 39% to 28,875 units in January 2014 over January 2013. Two wheeler exports registered a growth of 35% to 23,438 units in January 2014 over January 2013.
Total two wheeler sales increased 5% to 179,576 units in January 2014 over January 2013. Domestic two wheeler sales accounted for 156,138 units in January 2014 as against 154,107 units registered in January 2013.
Scooters sales grew 19% to 45,198 units in January 2014 over January 2013. Motorcycles sales grew marginally increasing from 64,555 units in January 2013 to 65,449 units in January 2014.
Three wheeler sales surged 52% to 6,737 units in January 2014 over January 2013.
IDFC rose 0.27% on good Q3 results. The company's consolidated net profit rose 10.02% to Rs 500.68 crore on 3.67% growth in total income to Rs 2122.84 crore in Q3 December 2013 over Q3 December 2012. The Q3 result was announced after market hours on Friday, 31 January 2014.
IDFC's balance sheet remained stable at Rs 70,073 crore as on 31 December 2013. Gross loan book increased 1% to Rs 54552 crore as on 31 December 2013, from Rs 54104 crore as on 31 December 2012.
Tata Power Company rose 2.4% after the company after market hours on Friday, 31 January 2014 said it has decided to exit from PT Arutmin Indonesia (Arutmin) to get additional cash flow and to reduce its consolidated debt amid facing under-recovery challenges in its Mundra ultra mega power plant (UMPP) operations and cash flow concerns.
Considering the present coal price scenario, Arutmin, which is a mine spread over a number of pits in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, had started posing production and cost viability challenges in its operations, Tata Power said in a statement.
Tata Power, however, continues to hold its equity stake in PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC), which owns one of the largest thermal coal producing mines in the world. KPC will also continue to be a part of the supply chain for Tata Power Group's coal off-take requirements, Tata Power said in a statement.
Accordingly, Tata Power, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, has signed an agreement to sell its 30% stake in Arutmin and associated companies in coal trading and infrastructure, to a Bakrie Group entity. The aggregate consideration for Tata Power's 30% stake is approximately $500 million, subject to certain closing adjustments. The sale is subjected to certain conditions and restructuring actions, which the company targets to complete in the next three months.
Mr. Anil Sardana, MD, Tata Power said, "The current coal price scenario has presented a challenge to the entire coal mining sector. The proceeds from the sale of Arutmin will provide cash to meet the company's current challenges. We do not expect any impact on the coal supplies to our plants since we stay invested in KPC mines and our coal supply agreement continues as it is".
Jindal Steel & Power shed 0.9%. The company after trading hours on Friday, 31 January 2014, said that the company has utilized more than 50% of the amount earmarked for share buyback as specified in the resolution passed by the Board of Directors at its meeting held on 30 August 2013, i.e., the minimum buy-back size of Rs 500 crore. Accordingly, a meeting of the duly authorized sub-committee of directors of the company is being convened on 4 February 2014 in order to consider, inter alia, determining the closing date of the buy-back offer of the company's equity shares, being a date earlier than the last date for the completion of buy-back offer mentioned in the announcement, i.e. 15 March 2014, Jindal Steel & Power said.
Markit Economics will unveil HSBC India Manufacturing PMI, which gauges the business activity of India's factories for January 2014 today, 3 February 2014. The HSBC Manufacturing PMI, compiled by Markit, eased to 50.7 in December, from 51.3 in November.
The fiscal deficit reached Rs 5.16 lakh crore during April-December 2013, or 95.2% of the full-year target, compared with 78.8% a year earlier, data released by the government after trading hours on Friday, 31 January 2014, showed. Factory gate duties were down 6.9% at Rs 1.02 lakh crore during April-December from the year-earlier period, while customs tax receipts rose 4.3% to Rs 1.24 lakh crore - much lower than the 13.6% annual growth target.
Asian stocks fell on Monday after a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing growth added to concern the global economic recovery is faltering. Key benchmark indices in Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea shed by 0.7% to 1.41%.
China's markets remain closed until 7 February 2014 for the Lunar New Year holiday, while Hong Kong is shut until 4 February 2014. Taiwan's stock market is also closed today for a holiday.
China's Purchasing Managers' Index was at 50.5 in January compared with December's 51 reading, the National Bureau of Statistics and China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said on 1 February 2013 in Beijing. Numbers above 50 signal expansion. The survey showed jobs and export orders shrinking, amplifying risks of a deeper slowdown as Communist Party leaders clamp down on the $6 trillion shadow-banking industry and interbank borrowing costs rise. A separate private manufacturing gauge released by HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics on Jan. 30 pointed to the first contraction in six months.
Growth in China's services sector cooled in January to its slowest pace in at least a year, data showed on Monday, the latest sign that the Chinese economy lost momentum last month in the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday. The official non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index slipped to 53.4 from December's 54.6, the lowest reading in at least a year but still above the 50-point level that indicates growth.
US stocks fell sharply on Friday amid continued unease over emerging markets and a number of high-profile earnings disappointments.
Powered by Capital Market - Live News