A bout of volatility was witnessed as key benchmark indices edged lower after trading near the flat line in afternoon trade. At 14:18 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was off 44.94 points or 0.17% at 25,805.36. The losses for the 50-unit Nifty 50 index were higher in percentage terms than those for the Sensex. The Nifty was currently off 19.75 points or 0.25% at 7,846.20. The Sensex fell 86.90 points or 0.33% at the day's low of 25,763.40 in mid-afternoon trade. The barometer index rose 72.17 points or 0.27% at the day's high of 25,922.47 at the onset of trading session, its highest level since 3 December 2015. The Nifty fell 30.45 points or 0.38% at the day's low of 7,835.50 in mid-afternoon trade. The index gained 22.80 points or 0.28% at the day's high of 7,888.75 in opening trade, its highest level since 3 December 2015.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. On BSE, 1,451 shares rose and 1,106 shares fell. A total of 227 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.21%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.31%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
In overseas stock markets, Asian and European stocks witnessed mixed trend. US stocks closed higher for the third straight session yesterday, 23 December 2015, led by outsize gains in the energy and materials sector stocks as crude oil futures rebounded after the weekly crude oil data showed US crude inventories posted an unexpectedly large decline last week.
Cement stocks rose. Ambuja Cements (up 0.62%), ACC (up 0.31%), and Shree Cement (up 0.3%) gained.
UltraTech Cement slipped 0.11%. The company has clarified that according to newspaper reports, the Agriculture and Water Resources Minister, Government of Chhattisgarh made a statement in the assembly that the department will cancel a no-objection certificate (NOC) granted to the company for a limestone mine spread over the villages of Moharanga, Math, Kharora and Mura in Chhattisgarh and a fresh survey will be conducted for the mines allotted. UltraTech Cement said that no mining activity has commenced in these mines as these mines are for future expansion of the business. The company further said that the cancellation of NOC for the mines will not have any impact on the company's existing operations.
Grasim Industries was off 0.56% at Rs 3,716.45. Grasim has exposure to the cement sector through its holding in UltraTech Cement.
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FMCG stocks were mixed. Britannia Industries (up 0.17%), GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Healthcare (up 0.4%), Hindustan Unilever (up 0.31%), Marico (up 1.48%), Tata Global Beverages (up 1.13%), Jyothy Laboratories (up 1.19%), Bajaj Corp (up 0.67%) rose. Colgate-Palmolive (India) (down 0.11%), Dabur India (down 0.81%), Godrej Consumer Products (down 1%), Nestle India (down 0.31%), Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care (down 1.13%) fell.
Hindustan Construction Company rose 1.58% after the company said that its infrastructure development subsidiary HCC Concessions has completed 74% stake-sale of Nirmal BOT, its annuity project in Andhra Pradesh to Highway Concession One, an entity majorly held by IDFC Alternatives managed India Infrastructure Fund. Consequently Nirmal BOT ceased to be a subsidiary of HCC Concessions and HCC. HCC has received a gross consideration of Rs 64 crore in tranches for the sale of 74% stake in Nirmal BOT. Nirmal BOT contributed 0.46% to the consolidated turnover of HCC during the last financial year. The announcement was made during market hours today, 24 December 2015.
Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers was locked at 20% upper circuit at Rs 49.90 after a large bulk deal of 38.85 lakh shares was executed on the counter at Rs 41.50 per share at 9:47 IST on BSE today, 24 December 2015.
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