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Key indices rally after ECB stimulus

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Last Updated : Jan 23 2015 | 6:01 PM IST

Auto, telecom and power generation stocks led rally as key benchmark indices edged higher on the last trading session of the week. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, and the 50-unit CNX Nifty, both hit record high as stocks rose across the globe after the European Central Bank (ECB) announced a massive new bond-buying program yesterday, 22 January 2015, aimed at boosting the sluggish eurozone economy. However, the broad market depicted weakness. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was weak. The BSE Small-Cap and Mid-Cap indices, both, edged lower. The Sensex was provisionally up 263.18 points or 0.91% at 29,269.20.

There are expectations that inflows from foreign funds into India will rise after European Central Bank (ECB) yesterday, 22 January 2015, announced a massive new bond-buying program to boost sluggish eurozone economy.

Shares of index heavyweights L&T and Infosys edged higher. Housing finance major HDFC and private sector bank HDFC Bank, both, hit a record high. Shares of Adani group firms surged. Capital goods shares were mixed.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 592.79 crore yesterday, 22 January 2015, as per provisional data.

The stock market remains closed on Monday, 26 January 2015, for Republic Day holiday.

In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged higher against the dollar on optimism the European Central Bank's stimulus will boost demand for emerging- market assets.

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Brent crude oil futures edged higher as news of the death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah added to uncertainty in energy markets.

In overseas markets, European stocks edged higher, with investors piling into equities after the European Central Bank opened the gates to a flood of liquidity with an asset-purchase program. Asian stocks edged higher after European Central Bank announced a massive new bond-buying program after a monetary policy review yesterday, 22 January 2015. US stocks surged yesterday, 22 January 2015, after the European Central Bank laid out its plan to expand its asset-purchase program.

ECB left interest rates unchanged and announced larger-than-expected measures to stimulate the region's sagging economy after a monetary policy review yesterday, 22 January 2015. ECB will buy 60 billion euros worth of assets per month, more than markets had been hoping for. The ECB said it would purchase sovereign debt from this March until the end of September 2016.

As per provisional closing, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 256.61 points or 0.88% to 29,262.63. The index jumped 402.71 points at the day's high of 29,408.73 in early trade, a lifetime high for the index. The index rose 159.54 points at the day's low of 29,165.56 in mid-morning trade.

The CNX Nifty was up 74.20 points or 0.85% at 8,835.60, as per provisional closing. The index hit a high of 8,866.40 in intraday trade, a lifetime high for the index. The index hit a low of 8,795.40 in intraday trade.

The BSE Mid-Cap index was down 14.57 points or 0.14% at 10,695.67. The BSE Small-Cap index was off 83.41 points or 0.73% at 11,366.09. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was weak. On BSE, 1,819 shares dropped and 1,126 shares advanced. A total of 97 shares were unchanged.

The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 4012 crore, higher than turnover of Rs 3556.52 crore during the previous trading session.

Power generation stocks were in demand. Tata Power (up 6.38%), Reliance Power (up 4.19%), Torrent Power (up 3.43%), Jaiprakash Power Ventures (up 2.12%), Reliance Infrastructure (up 1.33%), NTPC (up 1.21%) and JSW Energy (up 0.99%), edhed higher. NHPC (down 0.75%), CESC (down 0.83%) and GMR Infrastructure (down 1.18%), edhed lower.

Shares of Adani group firms surged. Adani Enterprises (up 8.84%), Adani Power (up 7.28%) and Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (up 5.47%), edged higher.

Most telecom stocks were higher. Bharti Airtel (up 3.96%), Reliance Communications (up 2.51%) and Idea Cellular (up 1.27%), edged higher. MTNL (down 0.36%) and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) (down 2.93%), edged lower.

Housing finance major HDFC rose 0.8% to Rs 1,290. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,340.30 in intraday trade, which is a record high for the counter. The stock hit a low of Rs 1,280.70 in intraday trade.

HDFC Bank rose 2.24% to Rs 1,044. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,047.85 in intraday trade, which is a record high for the counter. The stock hit a low of Rs 1,023.40 in intraday trade

Capital goods shares were mixed. Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company (up 6.90%), Siemens (up 2.59%), Jindal Saw (up 1.61%), SKF India (up 1.60%), Praj Industries (up 1.37%), ABB (up 1.32%), Alstom T&D India (up 0.53%), Crompton Greaves (up 0.21%), Havells India (up 0.16%) and Bharat Electronics (up 0.09%), edged higher.

BEML (down 0.22%), Punj Lloyd (down 0.27%), Thermax (down 1.68%), Bharat Heavy Electricals (down 1.8%), AIA Engineering (down 2.01%), ALSTOM India (down 2.66%), Lakshmi Machine Works (down 4.21%) and Suzlon Energy (down 6.47%), edged lower.

Larsen & Toubro rose 2.56% to Rs 1,705.70. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,712.95 and a low of Rs 1,673.10 in intraday trade.

Colgate-Palmolive (India) fell 0.55% to Rs 1,911.20. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,942 and a low of Rs 1,885 in intraday trade. The company's net profit rose 16% to Rs 130.90 crore on 12% growth in net sales to Rs 988.60 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. The Q3 result was announced during market hours today, 23 January 2015. Colgate-Palmolive (India) said it has posted a strong volume growth of 5% in Q3 December 2014 in Toothpaste category and continued to enhance its leadership position in Toothpaste category by registering a volume market share of 56.7% for the period January-December 2014, an increase of 80 basis points over the same period of the previous year. The flagship brands Colgate Dental Cream, Active Salt, Max Fresh and Colgate Total and Visible White have contributed to this growth, the company said in a statement.

Colgate-Palmolive (India) said it has further strengthened its leadership position in the Toothbrush category by registering a volume market share of 42.4% for January-December 2014, an increase of 80 basis points over the same period of the previous year.

Karur Vysya Bank was down 0.72%. The bank announced during trading hours that it has reduced the base rate by 25 basis points and revised the deposit rates with immediate effect.

In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged higher against the dollar on optimism the European Central Bank's stimulus will boost demand for emerging- market assets. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 61.56, compared with its close of 61.705 during the previous trading session.

Brent crude oil futures edged higher as news of the death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah added to uncertainty in energy markets. Brent for March settlement was up 63 cents at $49.15 a barrel. The contract had fallen 51 cents or 1.06% to settle at $48.52 a barrel during the previous trading session. Abdullah died early today, 23 January 2015, and his brother Salman became king, the royal court in the world's top oil exporter and birthplace of Islam said in a statement carried by state television.

Meanwhile, stock market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) yesterday, 22 January 2015, announced that 25% of the issue price must be received upfront where partly paid shares are issued through public issue and rights issue. The balance consideration shall continue to be received within 12 months if the issue size is less than Rs 500 crore. Where the issue size exceeds Rs 500 crore and the issuer has appointed a monitoring agency, the period can be decided by the issuer as per the existing regulatory framework, Sebi said. In respect of warrants issued along with public or rights issue of specified securities, 25% of the consideration shall be received upfront by the issuer and tenure of such warrants shall be 18 months as against 12 months presently, Sebi said.

The Sebi board also approved amendments to Issue and Listing of Debt Securities (ILDS) Regulations to incorporate express provisions for enabling "Consolidation and Re-issuance of Debt Securities" and "Call and Put options". By enabling consolidation and re-issuance of debt-securities, the illiquid and infrequently traded corporate bonds can be re-issued thereby leading to creation of a larger floating stock that can increase liquidity in the market, Sebi said in a press release. By enabling Call and Put options, the issuer and investors would have flexibility in redemption of debt securities.

In order to further develop the securitisation market, the Sebi board has approved amendments to Securitised Debt Instruments (SDI) regulations to rationalize and clarify the role and responsibilities of trustee, allowing banks and public financial institutions to act as trustee without obtaining registration, terms of appointment and capital requirement for trustee, and providing for a summary term sheet. This is expected to enhance the confidence of investors in securitisation transactions, Sebi said.

The government's gross direct tax collection rose 12.93% to Rs 5.46 lakh crore during April-December 2014 over the corresponding period in the previous year. Gross collection of corporate tax rose 12.79% to Rs 3.5 lakh crore during April-December 2014 over the corresponding period in the previous year, the finance ministry said. The government's net direct tax collections rose 7.41% to Rs 4.48 lakh crore during April-December 2014 over the corresponding period in the previous year.

Takahira Ogawa, a director sovereign ratings at S&P was quoted as saying today, 23 January 2015, that the quality of fiscal consolidation in India is more important as the fiscal deficit number alone would not give a true picture of the country's fiscal consolidation. Ogawa also said the current government is mindful of the quality of fiscal consolidation.

US President Barack Obama arrives on a visit to India this weekend. The US President is the chief guest for India's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on 26 January 2015.

European stocks extended their new-year rally as investors cheered the European Central Bank's decision to buy government bonds in a bid to revive the region's economy and stave off deflation. Key benchmark indices in UK, France and Germany were up by 0.38% to 1.39%.

Eurozone PMI composite index hit a 5-month high at 52.2 in January 2015.

French business confidence in the manufacturing sector was stable in January compared to December, skirting just below the long-term average. Confidence in the manufacturing sector stood at 99 in January--just below the long-term average of 100--as business leaders were less confident about recent production levels, but more bullish about future prospects, a monthly survey by statistics agency Insee showed.

Meanwhile, uncertainties over the status of Greece including its possible exit from the eurozone are likely to persist until the early election in the country on Sunday, 25 January 2015. Greece is set to hold snap elections after it failed to elect a new president in a third round of voting late last year. The Greek leftist opposition party Syriza leads opinion polls ahead of national elections on 25 January 2015. Syriza has demanded debt relief from the eurozone and promised to roll back the austerity and reform measures that the country has undertaken in exchange for the international bailout that the government negotiated in 2012.

Asian stocks rallied after ECB launched a landmark bond-buying stimulus programme that buoyed investors' risk appetite. Key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan were up by 0.79% to 1.34%.

China's Shanghai Composite was up 0.25%. China's manufacturing sector strengthened slightly at the start of the year, according to a measure released Friday, but remains in a weak spot. A preliminary reading of the HSBC China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index rose to 49.80 in January from a final reading of 49.60 in December. A reading above 50 indicates expansion from the previous month, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction. The overall growth of China's economy slowed to 7.4% in 2014, its slowest pace in more than 20 years, in part because of problems in manufacturing.

Taiwan's industrial output posted stronger-than-expected gains in December, driven by demand for the island's electronic components for new hand-held devices and stocking demand ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays. The index--which measures output from domestic factories, utilities and mines--rose 7.33% year-over-year in December to 111.58, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said today.

Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could gain 19 points at the opening bell today, 23 January 2015. US stocks ended higher yesterday following ECB's stimulus announcement. Separately, the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week from a seven-month high, pointing to continued improvement in labour market conditions. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 307,000 for the week ended 17 January 2015, the Labour Department said yesterday.

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First Published: Jan 23 2015 | 3:29 PM IST

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