Losses for banking stocks offset gains for metal shares and index heavyweights Reliance Industries, ITC and HDFC, with the two key benchmark indices settling near the flat line. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 12.75 points or 0.05% to settle at 24,659.23. The 50-unit Nifty 50 index fell 0.05 points to settle at 7,485.30. The two key benchmark indices witnessed intraday volatility. The Sensex attained its highest closing level in more than five weeks, with the barometer index recording gains for the fifth straight trading session.
Metal shares edged higher after overnight rally in commodity prices. Shares of oil exploration and production companies rose as global crude oil prices surged. Stocks of most public sector banks (PSU banks) edged lower after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday, 5 March 2016, said that an Experts' Group would be constituted immediately to consider a proposal for merger of PSU banks in order to have strong banks.
Bank of Baroda dropped after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an announcement dated 6 March 2016 said that it has conducted searches at ten locations in the office/residential premises of certain persons at Delhi/NCR/other places in an on-going investigation of a case relating to alleged violation of banking norms in overseas remittance of foreign exchange of Rs 6000 crore in an illegal and irregular manner from Bank of Baroda's Ashok Vihar, Delhi branch. Syndicate Bank edged lower on media reports that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating an alleged fraud at the state-run bank involving more than Rs 1000 crore.
Strides Shasun edged higher after the company announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Strides Pharma Inc. has entered into an agreement with Moberg Pharma, Sweden and its affiliates to acquire three OTC brands for a total consideration of $10 million plus inventory value at closing.
In overseas stock markets, European stocks fell as disappointing Chinese February trade data rekindled concerns about slowing Chinese economy. Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow Jones Industrial Average could fall 122.50 points at the opening bell today, 8 March 2016. Most Asian stocks fell, stepping back from their recent rally, with weak China trade data weighing on the sentiment. China's February exports fell 25.4% in dollar terms, while imports fell 13.8%. The drop in exports was the largest on-year drop since 2009.
The Sensex rose 12.75 points or 0.05% to settle at 24,659.23, its highest closing level since 1 February 2016. The index rose 147.14 points, or 0.6% at the day's high of 24,793.62. The index fell 137.27 points, or 0.56% at the day's low of 24,509.21.
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The Nifty declined 0.05 points to settle at 7,485.30, its lowest closing level since 3 March 2016. The index fell 43.20 points or 0.58% at the day's low of 7,442.15. The index rose 41.80 points, or 0.56% at the day's high of 7,527.15.
The BSE Mid-Cap index fell 0.25%, underperforming the Sensex. The BSE Small-Cap index rose 0.24%, outperforming the Sensex.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was negative. On BSE, 1,329 shares fell and 1,318 shares rose. A total of 144 shares were unchanged.
Among the sectoral indices on BSE, the S&P BSE Basic Materials index (up 1.2%), the BSE Energy index (up 1.44%), the BSE Metal index (up 1.7%) and the BSE Oil & Gas index (up 1.5%) outperformed the Sensex. The S&P BSE Bankex index (down 1.29%), the BSE Finance index (down 0.6%) and the S&P BSE IT index (down 0.49%) underperformed the Sensex.
Index heavyweight and housing finance major HDFC rose 1.56% to Rs 1,146.05. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,149 and a low of Rs 1,120 in intraday trade.
Index heavyweight and cigarette major ITC rose 1.66% to Rs 321.25. The stock hit a high of Rs 325 and a low of Rs 315.15 in intraday trade.
Index heavyweight and IT major Infosys edged lower volatile trade. The stock fell 0.6% to Rs 1,163.55. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,190 and a low of Rs 1,148 in intraday trade.
Stocks of most public sector banks (PSU banks) edged lower after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday, 5 March 2016, said that an Experts' Group would be constituted immediately to consider a proposal for merger of PSU banks in order to have strong banks. Vijaya Bank (down 4.59%), State Bank of India (down 2.52%), Canara Bank (down 2.34%), Bank of India (down 2.12%) and Punjab National Bank (down 1.75%) dropped. Corporation Bank (up 4.46%), United Bank of India (up 1.53%) and IDBI Bank (up 1.03%) rose.
Speaking to the media at the end of a two-day conference of top management of PSU banks, finance sector regulators and finance ministry officials organized by the finance ministry, Jaitley also said that the Department of Financial Services (DFS) is considering amending the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) Act and SARFESI Act to help banks expedite the process of recovery of bad loans. Jaitley was quoted as saying at the press conference that the government is also considering a proposal to allow PSU banks to institute employee stock option plan for bank employees.
Bank of Baroda fell 4.61% at Rs 141.90 after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an announcement dated 6 March 2016 said that it has conducted searches at ten locations in the office/residential premises of certain persons at Delhi/NCR/other places in an on-going investigation of a case relating to alleged violation of banking norms in overseas remittance of foreign exchange of Rs 6000 crore in an illegal and irregular manner from Bank of Baroda's Ashok Vihar, Delhi branch. The CBI said that the investigation revealed further involvement of around 11 private persons/entities (companies). The CBI said that further investigation is continuing with reference to the role of other accused persons including bank officials as well as alleged 59 account holders and private persons. On 9 October 2015, CBI registered a case against 59 current account holders and unknown bank officials and private persons on alleged violation of banking norms in overseas remittance of foreign exchange from Bank of Baroda's Ashok Vihar, Delhi branch.
Syndicate Bank fell 2.02% at Rs 60.55 on media reports that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating an alleged fraud at the state-run bank involving more than Rs 1000 crore. The alleged fraud includes the use of fake bills and providing overdraft limits against non-existent life insurance policies, reports suggested.
Stocks of private sector banks declined. Kotak Mahindra Bank (down 2.46%), ICICI Bank (down 1.66%), Axis Bank (down 0.99%) and HDFC Bank (down 0.51%) declined. IndusInd Bank (up 0.66%) and Yes Bank (up 0.14%) gained.
Shares of oil exploration and production companies rose as global crude oil prices surged. Cairn India (up 6.79%), Oil India (up 0.68%) and ONGC (up 0.45%) edged higher. Higher crude oil prices will result in higher realization from crude sales for oil exploration firms.
Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) rose 2.05% to Rs 1,027.15. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,031 and a low of Rs 1,006 in intraday trade.
Shares of public sector oil marketing companies (PSU OMCs) also edged higher. HPCL (up 0.35%), Indian Oil Corporation (up 1.94%) and BPCL (up 0.53%) rose.
In the global commodities markets, Brent for May settlement was currently down 25 cents at $40.59 a barrel. The contract had jumped $2.12 a barrel or 5.48% to settle at $40.84 a barrel during the previous trading session.
Passenger car major Maruti Suzuki India fell 2.9% at Rs 3,461.55. The stock hit a high of Rs 3,599.75 and a low of Rs 3,451 in intraday trade.
FMCG major Hindustan Unilever lost 2.48% at Rs 827.55. The stock hit a high of Rs 849 and a low of Rs 824.50 in intraday trade.
Metal shares edged higher after overnight rally in commodity prices. Steel Authority of India (up 8.11%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 4.91%), National Aluminium Company (up 3.6%), Hindalco Industries (up 4.73%), Bhushan Steel (up 2.95%), Hindustan Copper (up 2.04%), Hindustan Zinc (up 0.72%) and Tata Steel (up 1.21%), edged higher. JSW Steel was down 0.56%. Vedanta (up 3.5%) and NMDC (up 6.12%) surged as spot iron ore price rose by almost 20% in a single trading session in the global markets yesterday, 7 March 2016. According to reports, the surge in iron ore price was fueled by optimism about the ability of China -- the biggest consumer of iron ore in the world -- to avoid a disastrous hard-landing of its economy. The Chinese government said over the weekend that it will emphasize growth over economic restructuring this year. The news added to rising optimism about Chinese demand. Other commodities, including oil, are also on the upswing.
Shares of pharmaceutical companies were mixed. Wockhardt (up 6%), Lupin (up 2.05%), Piramal Enterprises (up 1.58%), Aurobindo Pharma (up 0.53%), Divi's Laboratories (up 0.94%) and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (up 0.1%), edged higher. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (down 0.01%), Dr Reddy's Laboratories (down 0.81%), Cadila Healthcare (down 1.63%), Cipla (down 1.41%), GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (down 0.01%) and Ipca Laboratories (down 2.45%), edged lower.
Alkem Laboratories rose 2.11% to Rs 1,341 after the company said that its manufacturing plant at Mandva, Gujarat, has successfully obtained the Establishment Inspection Report from the US Food and Drug Administration. The plant manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and was inspected by US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in September 2015. Alkem Laboratories' CEO Prabhat Aggarwal said that this development re-affirms the company's focus towards the United States as its key market and further boosts its ability to enhance its product offering in the market.. The announcement was made on Monday, 7 March 2016, when the stock market was closed on account of Mahashivratri.
Strides Shasun rose 2.56% to Rs 1,060.05 after the company announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Strides Pharma Inc. has entered into an agreement with Moberg Pharma, Sweden and its affiliates to acquire Jointflex, Fergon and Vanquish brands for a total consideration of $10 million plus inventory value at closing. The acquisition strengthens Strides Shasun's strategy to build a global over the counter (OTC) franchise. The transaction adds $6.1 million to the company's revenue. These OTC brands command EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization) margin, which is higher than the current EBITDA margin of Strides Shasun. The transaction is immediately accretive and is expected to close within next four weeks.
L&T lost 0.54% at Rs 1,187.30. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,211.95 and a low of Rs 1,174.40 in intraday trade. The company has completed the transaction for the sale of its casting manufacturing unit located at Coimbatore to Australia's Bradken Limited for total consideration of Rs 163 crore. The business transfer agreement was signed in November 2014. This unit clocked revenue of Rs 122 crore in the year ended 31 March 2015 (FY 2015), which was less than 1% of the total revenue of the company for the year. The sale of the Coimbatore foundry is in line with the company's strategic plan to exit non-core businesses and rationalize its portfolio. The company continues to operate two other foundries in Odisha and Gujarat. L&T made the announcement after trading hours on Friday, 4 March 2016.
Siemens rose 0.06% at Rs 1,044.80 after the company after trading hours on Friday, 4 March 2016, announced that its board of directors has decided to consider the distribution of 50% of the proceeds from the sale of its healthcare undertaking as a special dividend to the company's shareholders. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,066.95 and a low of Rs 1,029 in intraday trade. The board will take the decision on special dividend at its first board meeting after the completion of the transaction. The transaction is expected to be completed by 1 July 2016. Siemens has approved the sale and transfer of the healthcare undertaking as a going concern on a slump sale basis to the subsidiary of its parent firm Siemens AG, Germany for total consideration of Rs 3050 crore. The unit clocked revenue of Rs 1424.80 crore in the year ended 30 September 2015 (FY 2015), accounting for 13.55% of the company's revenue for the year. The unit had negative networth of Rs 88.50 crore as on 30 September 2015. The transaction is subject to the approval of the company's shareholders through an ordinary resolution.
Regarding the rationale for the sale of the healthcare unit to the parent firm, Siemens said that it would allow the parent firm increased flexibility, greater entrepreneurial freedom and faster decision making to grow its India healthcare segment independently. The healthcare unit is highly dependent on the parent company and its subsidiaries for products and technical know-how and that significant long-term investments are required for localization of products and solutions of the unit, Siemens said. Siemens further said that currently there are limited synergies between the healthcare business and its other business segments. The sale of the unit will allow Siemens to increase its focus and capital allocation to power generation, transmission and distribution, mobility, industrial automation and Smart Cities segments. The transaction will be margin accretive for Siemens. The company made the announcement on the sale of the healthcare unit after trading hours on Friday, 4 March 2016.
Asian Paints rose 0.67% at Rs 872.90. The company after trading hours on Friday, 4 March 2016, announced that it has filed First Information Report (FIR) with the Police department against its Registrar & Transfer Agent Sharepro Services (India) Pvt. Ltd. and its employees on certain irregularities by Sharepro with respect to share transfer operations and dividend encashment activities. Asian Paints has issued a termination notice to Sharepro for the termination of Registrar & Transfer Agent services with effect from 1 April 2016. The company is currently in the process of appointing a new Registrar & Transfer Agent.
The Sensex rose for the fifth day in a row. The Sensex has surged 1,657.23 points or 7.2% in five trading days from its close of 23,002 on 29 February 2016. The Sensex has fallen 1,458.31 points or 5.58% in calendar year 2016 so far (till 8 March 2016). From a 52-week low of 22,494.61 hit on 29 February 2016, the Sensex has risen 2,164.62 points or 9.62%. The Sensex is off 5,365.51 points or 17.87% from a record high of 30,024.74 hit on 4 March 2015.
Meanwhile, as per the monthly data released by Association of Mutual Funds In India (AMFI), net inflow into equity mutual funds totaled Rs 2522 crore in February 2016, lower than the inflow of Rs 2914 crore in January 2016. The net inflow into balanced funds totaled Rs 941 crore in February 2016, which was higher than inflow of Rs 880 crore in January 2016. Balanced funds invest the money in a combination of equity and debt, with majority of the investment going into equity. The funds' investments range from 65% to 80% in equity and the rest in debt.
Meanwhile, the government has scrapped the controversial proposal to tax withdrawals from the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF). Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the decision in Lok Sabha today,8 March 2016. In Union Budget 2016-17 on 29 February 2016, the government had announced that 40% of the total corpus withdrawn at the time of retirement would be tax-exempt, both under EPF and National Pension System. This made the remaining 60% of the EPF's incremental corpus taxable from 2016-17 unless the amount was invested in an annuity product. At present, withdrawal from EPF is entirely tax-free.
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