Key benchmark indices were trading higher in early trade on positive global cues. At 9:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 21.86 points or 0.06% at 37,628.44. The Nifty 50 index was up 6.35 points or 0.06% at 11,362.85.
Among secondary barometers,the BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.50%. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.39%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On BSE, 769 shares rose and 302 shares fell. A total of 43 shares were unchanged.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will conclude its two-day monetary policy meeting today, 1 August 2018. The resolution of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will be unveiled at 14:30 IST today, 1 August 2018. RBI raised its benchmark policy repo rate by 0.25% to 6.25% in its second bi-monthly monetary policy for 2018-2019 on 6 June 2018.
Overseas, most Asian stocks edged higher, taking cues from the positive session seen in the US market following news that the US and China may restart official talks about their months-long trade dispute.
US stocks closed higher Tuesday, as investors continued to digest an onslaught of quarterly earnings reports, with the vast majority beating expectations. But headline news on trade continued to drive markets.
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According to media reports, representatives of US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He are in private talks to resume negotiations on trade matters in a bid to avoid a trade war.
Investors will be watching data from around the Asian region, including manufacturing activity numbers from China, for indications of the outlook for the global economy.
Policy meetings of the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday, 1 August 2018, and the Bank of England on Thursday, 2 August 2018, will also keep some investors on the sidelines, although the US central bank is expected to keep rates unchanged.
On the US data front, consumer spending rose a solid 0.4% in June. Meanwhile, the employment cost index rose 0.6% in the second quarter. The S&P/Case-Shiller national index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.4% and was up 6.4% for the year in May. A measure of regional manufacturing activity in Chicago came in at the highest in six months. Chicago PMI rose 1.4 points to 65.5 in July, MNI Indicators said. Any reading above 50 indicates improving conditions. Separately, a reading of consumer confidence came in at 127.4 in July, compared with 126.5 in the previous month.
Back home, Tata Motors was down 3.41%. On a consolidated basis, Tata Motors reported net loss of Rs 1862.57 crore in Q1 June 2018 as compared to net profit of Rs 3199.93 crore in Q1 June 2017. Total income rose 8.09% to Rs 67306.06 crore in Q1 June 2018 over Q1 June 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 31 July 2018.
Vedanta was up 2.18%. On a consolidated basis, Vedanta reported 0.67% rise in net profit to Rs 2248 crore on 16.78% rise in total income to Rs 22624 crore in Q1 June 2018 over Q1 June 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 31 July 2018.
Power Grid Corporation of India was up 0.30%. The company reported 9.17% rise in net profit to Rs 2240.54 crore on 15.79% rise in total income to Rs 8637.04 crore in Q1 June 2018 over Q1 June 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 31 July 2018.
Mahanagar Gas was up 2.71%. The company reported 3.22% rise in net profit to Rs 128.33 crore on 16.87% rise in total income to Rs 634.68 crore in Q1 June 2018 over Q1 June 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 31 July 2018.
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