Amid divergent trend among various index constituents, key benchmark indices registered small gains. Pharma and FMCG stocks rose whereas cement, metal and mining stocks dropped. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was negative. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, advanced 68.22 points or 0.23% to settle at 29,448.95. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, 5 March 2015, said amendment of the existing Land Acquisition Act is essential to enable creation of rural infrastructure including roads, houses for poor, schools, hospitals and irrigation projects.
Metal and mining stocks dropped after China projected economic growth of about 7% for 2015, lower than the 7.4% it achieved in 2014. HCL Technologies advanced after the company announced a strategic partnership with with Tele 2, one of the leading European telecommunications operators, to address the substantial market opportunities for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in Europe.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 2801.24 crore from the secondary equity markets yesterday, 4 March 2015, as per data from the Central Depository Services (India). Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 16.89 crore yesterday, 4 March 2015, as per provisional data.
Key indices witnessed volatility during the second half of the trading session after a range bound movement until the first half of the trading session. After languishing in positive zone in morning trade, key indices reversed direction later. Key indices trimmed losses soon after extending intraday slide in mid-afternoon trade. The benchmark indices once again moved into the green from red in late trade.
India's financial markets are closed tomorrow, 6 March 2015, on account of Holi.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged higher against the dollar.
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Brent crude oil futures edged higher in volatile trade.
In overseas markets, European stocks edged higher ahead of a key European Central Bank meeting later in the global day at which policy makers are expected to provide details of an asset-purchase program worth up to euro 1 trillion ($1.108 trillion) aimed at spurring the continent's economic recovery. Asian stocks were mixed. Chinese stocks dropped after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang lowered China's gross domestic product growth target to around 7% for 2015, compared with 7.4% GDP growth it achieved in 2014.
US stocks edged lower yesterday, 4 March 2015, as investors remained cautious ahead of the closely watched monthly nonfarm payroll report, due tomorrow, 6 March 2015, amid mixed economic data this week, including manufacturing, consumer spending and inflation.
The S&P BSE Sensex advanced 68.22 points or 0.23% to settle at 29,448.95, its highest closing level since 3 March 2015. The index jumped 137.59 points at the day's high of 29,518.32 in late trade. The index fell 218.26 points at the day's low of 29,162.47 in afternoon trade, its lowest level since 28 February 2015.
The 50-unit CNX Nifty rose 15.10 points or 0.17% to settle at 8,937.75, its highest closing level since 3 March 2015. The index hit a high of 8,957.55 in intraday trade. The index hit a low of 8,849.35 in intraday trade, its lowest level since 28 February 2015.
The BSE Mid-Cap index rose 80.81 points or 0.74% to settle at Rs 11,045.08. The BSE Small-Cap index advanced 75.20 points or 0.66% to settle at 11,456.85. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was negative. On BSE, 1,461 shares declined and 1,401 shares advanced. A total of 116 shares remained unchanged.
The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 3625 crore, lower than turnover of Rs 6861.22 crore during the previous trading session.
Among sectoral indices on BSE, the S&P BSE Auto index (up 0.49%), BSE Bankex index (up 0.56%), FMCG index (up 1.07%), BSE Healthcare index (up 2.54%), and BSE Power index (up 0.37%) outperformed the Sensex. The S&P BSE Consumer Durables index (down 0.12%), BSE Capital Goods index (down 0.6%), BSE IT index (down 0.58%), BSE Metal index (down 1.92%), BSE Oil & Gas index (down 0.12%), BSE Realty index (down 0.02%), and BSE Teck index (down 0.61%) underperformed the Sensex.
Pharma stocks advanced. GlaxoSmithkline Pharmaceuticals (up 3.99%), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (up 5.42%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (up 3.24%), Lupin (up 3.22%), Ranbaxy Laboratories (up 3%), Ipca Laboratories (up 3.96%), Divi's Laboratories (up 2.29%), Aurobindo Pharma (up 1.98%), Wockhardt (up 2.58%), Cipla (up 1.81%), Dr Reddy's Laboratories (up 1.48%) and Cadila Healthcare (up 0.72%) edged higher.
Cement stocks declined. UltraTech Cement (down 3.34%), ACC (down 1.34%), Shree Cement (down 0.85%), and Ambuja Cements (down 0.42%) edged lower.
Grasim Industries was off 2.45% at Rs 3,786.65. Grasim Industries has exposure to cement industry through its subsidiary UltraTech Cement.
HCL Technologies advanced after the company announced a strategic partnership with with Tele 2, one of the leading European telecommunications operators, to address the substantial market opportunities for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in Europe. The stock advanced 1.41% at Rs 2,064.75.
Wipro rose 1.44% at Rs 667.65. With respect to media reports titled Wipro, Orga join hands, Wipro in a clarification issued during market hours today, 5 March 2015, confirmed that the company has a tie up and has been working with the Orga Systems to develop solution for OSS/BSS domain. Wipro further said that the company enters into such tie ups with various players which are more in the nature of partnerships and/or brand/marketing related.
Tech Mahindra fell 0.14% at Rs 2,877.65. The stock hit a high of Rs 2,912.40 and a low of Rs 2,850. Tech Mahindra during market hours today, 5 March 2015, announced that it has inaugurated its Vietnam sales office in Hanoi, bringing jobs, IT expertise and expanding operations in the country and across the region. Tech Mahindra has been working with customers in Vietnam since 2012 and has seen an uptick in the number of customers, especially in the banking sector in the country, which include a fully state owned bank and other top commercial banks, Tech Mahindra said.
TCS fell 1.72% at Rs 2,696.35. The stock hit a high of Rs 2,768.15 and a low of Rs 2,686. TCS after market hours yesterday, 4 March 2015, announced the release of a new platform for next generation underwriting for the digital era. TCS said its Underwriting Workbench solution is a multi-faceted platform that combines dynamic case management, intelligent workflow, and decision support systems with robust geospatial functions such as mapping and visualization capabilities to form a solution that augments the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire underwriting process. The solution automates the ability to capture, analyze and make use of data in order to determine risk exposure and risk aggregation, TCS said.
Asian Paints fell 0.41% at Rs 833.65. The stock hit a high of Rs 841 and a low of Rs 828.55. Asian Paints after market hours yesterday, 4 March 2015, said that Berger International, Singapore (BIL), an indirect subsidiary of the company, has completed the acquisition of 51% stake in Kadisco Paint and Adhesive Industry Share Company, Ethiopia (Kadisco). Asian Paints said that the Ethiopian Investment Agency, Ethiopia (ElA) has granted capital registration to Kadisco with respect to the investment made by BIL for the acquisition.
Kadisco is one of the leading paint companies in Ethiopia, incorporated in the year 1979, and is engaged in the manufacturing & selling of decorative paints, industrial paints, automotive paints, other coatings and adhesives in Ethiopia.
Bosch gained 2.72% at Rs 26,770.45 after stock market index provider FTSE Group added the stock among large-cap stocks in its Asia Pacific ex-Japan index following the Semi-Annual review of the FTSE Global Equity Index Series-Asia Pacific ex Japan. The change will be effective after trading hours on Friday, 20 March 2015.
Telecom stocks edged lower after aggressive bidding for spectrum on day one of auction yesterday, 4 March 2015. Idea Cellular (down 3.97%), Bharti Airtel (down 0.93%), and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) (down 1.46%) edged lower. Reliance Communications was unchanged for the day at Rs 66.85. After six rounds of bidding for radio telecom spectrum on day one of auction yesterday, 4 March 2015, a value of approximately Rs 60000 crore has been committed by bidders against the value (at reserve price) of around Rs 49000 crore of provisionally won spectrum, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said in a statement yesterday, 4 March 2015. There is still spectrum, which is yet to be sold, the DoT said adding that bidding will recommence on Thursday, 5 March 2015.
PSU OMCs advanced after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) yesterday, 4 March 2015, gave its approval to extend the PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme, 2002 and Freight Subsidy (for far-flung areas) Scheme, 2002 for a period of one year that is up to 31 March 2015. BPCL (up 0.57%), HPCL (up 0.97%), and Indian Oil Corporation (up 2.13%) edged higher. The approval will help in reducing the under-recovery of PSU OMCs, a government statement said yesterday, 4 March 2015.
The Government was providing a subsidy of Rs 22.58 per 14.2 kg. LPG cylinder and Rs 0.82 per litre on PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme, 2002. Besides, freight subsidy was also being provided to PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG consumers in far-flung areas under the Freight Subsidy (for far-flung areas) Scheme, 2002. These two schemes ended on 31 March 2014.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas after trading hours yesterday, 4 March 2015, said that 81% active LPG consumers (11.74 crore) have joined the Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL) scheme called PAHAL as on 2 March 2015. In a short period, the enrollment has achieved a satisfactory level of penetration of over 80%, the oil ministry said. PAHAL will save subsidy by reducing the incentive to divert subsidized cylinders and also provides an easy exit route for those who do not want to avail subsidy on domestic gas cylinders, the oil ministry said. The scheme is aimed at transferring the subsidy benefit directly to the beneficiary and curb diversion/black marketing of LPG cylinders.
Shares of insurance companies were mixed. Bajaj Finserv (up 4.3%), Exide Industries (up 2.21%), HDFC (up 1.75%), Reliance Capital (up 2.61%), and Max India (up 0.57%) edged higher. Religare Enterprises (down 0.22%), State Bank of India (down 0.19%), Aditya Birla Nuvo (down 2.2%), and ICICI Bank (down 0.22%) edged lower.
The Lok Sabha yesterday, 4 March 2015, passed the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2015, that proposes to raise the foreign investment cap to 49% from 26% in the insurance sector. The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2015 now faces its real test in the upper house of parliament viz. Rajya Sabha where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in a minority and is dependent on opposition parties to pass the legislation. The BJP-led NDA government has a commanding majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha with 334 seats, but is in a minority in the 245-seat Rajya Sabha, where it has just 57 members. The government had promulgated an ordinance last year for allowing higher foreign investment in the insurance sector after the opposition parties stalled the passage of the bill in Rajya Sabha.
Bank stocks declined. Among public sector banks, Dena Bank (down 2.77%), United Bank of India (down 2.06%), Oriental Bank of Commerce (down 1.22%), Bank of India (down 0.95%), State Bank of India (down 0.19%), Punjab National Bank (down 0.52%), Syndicate Bank (down 0.08%) edged lower. Bank of Baroda (up 2.08%), Canara Bank (up 1.13%), and Central Bank of India (up 1.47%) edged higher.
IDBI Bank rose 1.15% at Rs 78.95. IDBI Bank after market hours yesterday, 4 March 2015, said that the board of directors of the bank at its meeting held yesterday, 4 March 2015, approved the proposal for rupee bond issuance limit of Rs 20000 crore to be borrowed in one or more tranches, comprising of senior/infrastructure bonds, Basel III compliant Tier II/additional Tier 1 bonds by way of private placement/public issue during FY 2015-16, subject to necessary approvals.
IDBI Bank also said that the board of directors of the bank has approved the proposal for separating the post of Chairman & Managing Director into 2 posts of a Chairman and a Managing Director & CEO by effecting amendments in the Articles of Association subject to RBI approval as per Section 35B of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and shareholders' approval to be obtained by passing Special Resolution in this regard.
Private sector banks advanced. IndusInd Bank (up 0.49%), Axis Bank (up 0.64%), Federal Bank (up 0.58%), HDFC Bank (up 1.87%) and Kotak Mahindra Bank (up 0.26%) edged higher. ICICI Bank (down 0.22%) and Yes Bank (down 0.19%) edged lower.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) surprised financial markets by announcing a reduction in its benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate by 25 basis points in an unscheduled monetary policy review before trading hours yesterday, 4 March 2015. The repo rate has been cut to 7.5% from 7.75%. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan cited relatively benign inflation and structural reforms embedded in Union Budget 2015-16 for the decision to cut the repo rate.
GAIL (India) fell 0.62% at Rs 404. The stock hit a high of Rs 409.05 and a low of Rs 397.95. GAIL (India) during market hours today, 5 March 2015, said that the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India vide letter dated 3 March 2015, informed the company that under recovery burden on GAIL (India) for the financial year 2014-15 is provisionally fixed at Rs 1000 crore. GAIL has been exempted from sharing of under recovery of oil marketing companies (OMCs) for the third and fourth quarter of 2014-15. For the financial year 2015-16, the share of GAIL towards under recovery of OMCs would be reviewed again based on its sales realization, cost of production and under recovery of OMCs on quarterly basis, GAIL (India) said.
Separately, in a clarification with regard to news item titled "GAIL drops plan to set up Odisha LNG terminal", GAIL (India) during market hours today, 5 March 2015, said that in October 2013, GAIL had signed MoU with Paradip Port Trust for setting up an FSRU Project within the port limits of Paradip Port. GAIL has also assessed technical feasibility of the FSRU Project at Paradip. Thereafter, GAIL initiated the process of selecting a strategic partner by inviting 'Expression of Interest' (EOI) from interested parties for becoming a strategic partner in GAIL's FSRU Project at Paradip Port, Odisha. GAIL (India) said it has decided to undertake an evaluation of various opportunities in the setting up LNG importation facilities in Odisha and has accordingly, withdrawn the EOI process. However, GAIL continues to remain interested in participating in LNG importation project along the coast of Odisha and would be working towards that end, GAIL (India) said.
Power generation stocks advanced. Reliance Power (up 1.08%), Tata Power Company (up 1.07%), Torrent Power (up 0.48%), JSW Energy (up 0.22%), Reliance Infrastructure (up 3.13%) edged higher. GVK Power Infrastructure (down 0.83%) and NHPC (down 0.98%) edged lower.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, 5 March 2015, reiterated the government's commitment to deliver power to all. He said power generation has gone up by about 11% in the last 9 to 10 months after the new government assumed office. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of saving energy, and mentioned the government's programme of LED bulbs for homes and street-lighting.
NTPC rose 0.19% at Rs 157.75. The stock hit a high of Rs 158.40 and a low of Rs 155.15. NTPC during market hours today, 5 March 2015, said that the Unit V of 660 megawatts (MW) of Barh Thermal Power Project was commissioned yesterday, 4 March 2015. With this, the total installed capacity of Barh-II has become 1,320 MW and the total installed capacity of NTPC group has become 43,803 MW, NTPC said.
Adani Power rose 4.95% at Rs 59.35. The company won the Jitpur coal block in Jharkhand for Rs 302 per tonne, according to the results of e-Auction for Schedule III coal mines announced by the Ministry of Coal yesterday, 4 March 2015.
Metal and mining stocks declined after after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang lowered China's gross domestic product growth target to around 7% for 2015, compared with 7.4% GDP growth it achieved in 2014. NMDC (down 4.03%), Hindalco Industries (down 3.36%), Jindal Steel & Power (down 1.83%), Steel Authority of India (down 1.69%), Hindustan Zinc (down 1.57%), Tata Steel (down 1.28%), and Sesa Sterlite (down 1.08%) edged lower. National Aluminium Company (up 0.91%) edged higher.
JSW Steel fell 0.06% at Rs 991.95. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,016 and a low of Rs 985. JSW Steel won the Moitra coal block in Jharkhand for Rs 1,512 per tonne, according to the results of e-Auction for Schedule III coal mines announced by the Ministry of Coal yesterday, 4 March 2015. The coal ministry has started auctioning coal blocks after the Supreme Court in September last year cancelled the allocation of more than 200 coal mines allotted between 1993 and 2010 after ruling that they were arbitrary and illegal.
The Sensex has risen 87.45 points or 0.29% in this month so far (till 5 March 2015). The Sensex has risen 1,949.53 points or 7.08% in this calendar year so far (till 5 March 2015). From a 52-week low of 21,329.88 on 6 March 2014, the Sensex has risen 8,119.07 points or 38.06%. The Sensex is off 575.79 points or 1.91% from a record hit of 30,024.74 yesterday, 4 March 2015.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged higher against the dollar. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 62.17, compared with its close of 62.26 during the previous trading session.
Brent crude oil futures edged higher in volatile trade. Brent for April settlement was up 94 cents at $61.49 a barrel. The contract had declined 47 cents or 0.77% to settle at $60.55 a barrel during the previous trading session.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, 5 March 2015, said amendment of the existing Land Acquisition Act is essential to enable creation of rural infrastructure including roads, houses for poor, schools, hospitals and irrigation projects. Modi made these comments on the occasion of the dedication to the nation of a thermal power project at Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh. The Prime Minister made a strong appeal to all sections of the Rajya Sabha, to support initiatives of the Union Government that would enable fulfilment of the mandate for development given by the people of India. He also made a passionate appeal to farmers not to be misled by those who were trying to project the government's initiatives for development as being anti-farmer. Describing energy as an integral part of modern life, the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to deliver power to all.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) surprised financial markets by announcing a reduction in its benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate by 25 basis points in an unscheduled monetary policy review before trading hours yesterday, 4 March 2015. The repo rate has been cut to 7.5% from 7.75%. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan cited relatively benign inflation and structural reforms embedded in Union Budget 2015-16 for the decision to cut the repo rate.
In overseas markets, European stocks edged higher today, 5 March 2015, ahead of a key European Central Bank (ECB) meeting later in the global day at which policy makers are expected to provide details of an asset-purchase program worth up to euro 1 trillion ($1.108 trillion) aimed at spurring the continent's economic recovery. Key indices in Germany, UK, and France were up 0.09% to 0.36%.
A monthly monetary policy review from the ECB is scheduled later in the global day today, 5 March 2015.
Asian stocks were mixed today, 5 March 2015. Key indices in Japan, South Korea and Indonesia were up 0.05% to 0.26%. Key indices in Taiwan and Singapore were off 0.21% to 0.28%.
Chinese stocks dropped after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang lowered China's gross domestic product growth target to around 7% for 2015 from its level of around 7.5% for last year, as he presented the government work report at the opening of China's annual parliamentary session today, 5 March 2015. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite was off 0.92%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng was off 1.11%.
The lower growth target signaled that Beijing won't take dramatic action to raise the growth rate above last year's level, which at 7.4% was its lowest in nearly a quarter-century. At the same time, China's leaders signaled concerns that an even sharper drop in growth risks higher unemployment and social unrest.
China has also lowered its projection for foreign-trade growth to about 6% for 2015 from a target of about 7.5% last year. The government will adopt measures to support foreign trade, including expanding trials in cross-border e-commerce and boosting the service trade, the Chinese Premier said in a report delivered to the nation's parliament. Last year, exports and imports combined grew 2.3% in yuan terms and 3.4% in dollar terms from a year earlier.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could gain 5 points at the opening bell today, 5 March 2015. US stocks closed lower yesterday, 4 March 2015 amid a series of economic data that continued to show moderate growth ahead of today's key jobs report.
The US government is scheduled to announce US nonfarm payroll data for February 2015 tomorrow, 6 March 2015.
Most Federal Reserve districts reported a expanding economy and a prevailing sense of optimism, Fed's Beige Book survey showed yesterday, 4 March 2015. Jobs gained across a variety of sectors, though wage pressures were muted, according to the March summary of economic forecasts the Fed compiled in its Beige Book of indicators.
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