Amid a divergent trend among various index constituents, key benchmark indices eked out minuscule gains. High volatility was witnessed during the second half of the trading session as key indices alternately swung between positive and negative zone. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, provisionally settled a tad below the psychological 29,000 mark after alternately moving above and below that level in intraday trade. The Sensex was provisionally up 16.72 points or 0.06% at 28,991.83. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was negative. The BSE Small-Cap and Mid-Cap indices, both, edged lower.
Meanwhile, the BJP has reportedly formed committee to seek farmers' suggestion on land acquisition bill after the government introduced the land acquisition amendment bill in the Lok Sabha today, 24 February 2015, amid uproar by the Opposition.
Index heavyweight and cigarette major ITC rose after the company market hours yesterday, 23 February 2015, said it has been declared as the successful bidder for Park Hyatt Hotel located at Cansaulim in Goa along with land and built up area of the hotel together with all buildings and structures and plant & machineries. Shares of FMCG major Hindustan Unilever (HUL) edged higher. Shares of oil exploration & production firms declined as global crude oil prices dropped. Shares of public sector oil marketing companies gained on slide in international crude oil prices.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 601.91 crore yesterday, 23 February 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 163.79 crore yesterday, 23 February 2015, as per provisional data.
The market may remain volatile this week as traders roll over positions in the futures & options (F&O) segment from the near month February 2015 series to March 2015 series. The near month February 2015 derivatives contracts expire on Thursday, 26 February 2015.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged lower against the dollar.
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Brent crude oil futures edged lower in choppy trade amid oil supply glut.
In overseas markets, European stocks dropped as investors waited for European officials to respond to economic-reform proposals submitted by Greece. Asian stocks edged higher ahead of US Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen's testimony before the Senate Banking Committee which begins later in the global day. Most US stocks edged lower in choppy trading session yesterday, 23 February 2015, as crude oil prices dropped.
As per provisional closing, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 16.72 points or 0.06% at 28,991.83. The index jumped 155.56 points at the day's high of 29,130.67 in mid-afternoon trade. The index fell 99.17 points at the day's low of 28,875.94 in late trade, its lowest level since 13 February 2015.
The CNX Nifty was up 7.15 points or 0.08% at 8,762.10. The index hit a high of 8,800.50 in intraday trade. The index hit a low of 8,726.75 in intraday trade, its lowest level since 12 February 2015.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was negative. On BSE, shares 1,706 declined and 1,159 shares gained. A total of 122 shares were unchanged.
The BSE Mid-Cap index was off 20.72 points or 0.19% at 10,724.70. The BSE Small-Cap index was off 89.37 points or 0.78% at 11,300.11. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.
The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 3525 crore, lower than turnover of Rs 3570.52 crore during the previous trading session.
Index heavyweight and cigarette major ITC rose 1.26% to Rs 395.05. ITC after market hours yesterday, 23 February 2015, said it has been declared as the successful bidder for Park Hyatt Hotel located at Cansaulim in Goa along with land and built up area of the hotel together with all buildings and structures and plant & machineries. The aforesaid assets of Blue Coast Hotels were put up on sale by IFCI through public auction under the provisions of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, ITC said in a statement. IFCI has declared ITC as the successful bidder at the bid price of Rs 515.44 crore and ITC has remitted 25% of bid amount being Rs 128.86 crore as per the terms of the Tender Document. Further, ITC has been advised to remit 75% of the balance amount within 15 days for the confirmation of sale, IFCI said.
Shares of IFCI rose 0.54%.
FMCG major Hindustan Unilever advanced 3.26% to Rs 914.95. The stock hit high of Rs 915 and low of Rs 887.
Shares of oil exploration & production firms declined on fall in international crude oil prices. Reliance Industries (RIL) (down 1.05%), Oil India (down 3.16%) and Cairn India (down 3.53%) dropped. Decline in crude oil prices would result in lower realizations from crude sales for oil exploration firms.
Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) dropped 3%. ONGC during market hours today, 24 February 2015, said that the company has been informed by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, vide order dated 23 February 2015 that a Disciplinary proceeding against Shashi Shankar, Director (T&FS), ONGC is contemplated. The competent authority in exercise of the powers conferred under ONGC Conduct, Discipline and Appeal Rules, 1994, has placed Shashi Shankar, Director (T&FS) ONGC, under suspension with immediate effect.
Shares of public sector oil marketing companies rose on fall in international crude oil prices. BPCL (up 2.57%) and HPCL (up 1.79%) rose. Indian Oil Corporation fell 2.78%.
Decline in crude oil prices could reduce under-recoveries of PSU OMCs on domestic sale of LPG and kerosene at government controlled prices. However, a weakness in rupee against the dollar will restrict the benefit of falling global crude oil prices to that extent. A weak rupee raises the cost of imports. The government has already decontrolled pricing of petrol and diesel.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged lower against the dollar. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 62.32, compared with its close of 62.3125 during the previous trading session.
Brent crude oil futures edged lower in choppy trade amid oil supply glut. Brent for April settlement was off 39 cents at $58.51 a barrel. The contract had dropped $1.32 a barrel to settle at $58.90 a barrel during the previous trading session.
Meanwhile, the BJP has reportedly formed committee to seek farmers' suggestion on land acquisition bill after the government introduced the land acquisition amendment bill in the Lok Sabha today, 24 February 2015, amid uproar by the Opposition. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill 2015 will replace an ordinance which had been promulgated by the NDA government on 30 December 2014. The Opposition parties, led by the Congress, vociferously opposed the bill on the floor of the house.
Meanwhile, the stock exchanges have decided to keep the stock market open on Saturday, 28 February 2015, just like any other normal trading session when the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presents the first full-fledged Budget of the Narendra Modi government. Trading will start at 9:15 IST and conclude at 15:30 IST. Jaitley will begin his speech at 11:00 IST in Lok Sabha on 28 February 2015 as he tables the Union Budget 2015-16 in the parliament.
The Railway Budget 2015-16 will be tabled in the parliament by rail minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday, 26 February 2015. The Economic Survey will be tabled on Friday, 27 February 2015.
The next major event for the financial markets is Union Budget for 2015-16. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present Union Budget 2015-16 in Parliament on Saturday, 28 February 2015. Analysts will scrutinize measures in the Budget for financing infrastructure projects as well as the government's own capital expenditure on infrastructure for the year ahead. This is the first full fledged Budget of the Narendra Modi government and analysts will look for a roadmap for economic growth for the next few years.
Changes in rates of dividend distribution tax, capital gains tax on sale of shares, Securities Transaction Tax (STT) and Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT), if any, will be closely watched. The dividend distribution tax is currently at 15%. The minimum alternate tax is currently at 18.5% of book profits. Short term capital gains tax on sale of shares is currently at 15% while there is zero long capital gains tax on sale of shares held for a period of more than one year.
Analysts are awaiting further progress on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) during the ongoing Budget session of Parliament after the Constitution Amendment Bill for the introduction of GST was tabled in the Lok Sabha during the winter session of parliament. GST, touted as the single biggest indirect taxation reforms since independence, will simplify and harmonise the indirect tax regime in the country. Central taxes like Central Excise Duty, Additional Excise Duties, Service Tax, Additional Customs Duty (CVD) and Special Additional Duty of Customs (SAD), etc. will be subsumed in GST. At the state level, taxes like VAT/Sales Tax, Central Sales Tax, Entertainment Tax, Octroi and Entry Tax, Purchase Tax and Luxury Tax, etc. would be subsumed in GST.
European shares slipped today, 24 February 2015, as investors waited for European officials to respond to economic-reform proposals submitted by Greece. Key benchmark indices in France and Germany were off 0.09% to 0.18%. In UK, the FTSE 100 was up 0.03%.
Greece remained firmly in focus. Greece yesterday, 23 February 2015, submitted a list of proposals on how to overhaul its economy in line with the country's bailout program. The Greek government needs its creditors to approve its proposals to secure a four-month extension to its bailout, which expires at the end of the month. Euro zone finance ministers would today, 24 February 2015, discuss Greece's plans as scheduled earlier.
Asian stocks edged higher today, 24 February 2015, before the US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen speaks to lawmakers. Key benchmark indices in Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia and South Korea rose by 0.26% to 1.05%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index fell by 0.35%. China's mainland markets remain closed today, 24 February 2015 for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Markit Economics will tomorrow, 25 February 2015, announce preliminary reading of China's HSBC PMI index for February 2015, indicating health of China's manufacturing activity for that month.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could rise 7 points at the opening bell today, 24 February 2015. US stocks ended mixed yesterday, 23 February 2015 as lower oil prices dragged down energy shares. In economic data, sales of previously owned US homes fell in January as a tight supply forced up prices, showing the residential real-estate market faces an uneven recovery. Purchases slowed 4.9% to a 4.82 million annualized rate, the least since April, according to figures from the National Association of Realtors yesterday, 23 February 2015.
Investors will receive further clues on the central bank's assessment of the economy and the timing of a rate increase when Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen gives two days of testimony to Congressional finance committees starting today, 24 February 2015.
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