After hovering in positive zone earlier during the trading session, key benchmark indices slipped into negative terrain in morning trade. At 10:16 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 38.56 points or 0.14% at 28,333.67. The Nifty 50 index was down 13.95 points or 0.16% at 8,712.65. The Sensex fell 26.03 points, or 0.09% at the day's low of 28,346.20 in morning trade. The index rose 60.51 points, or 0.21% at the day's high of 28,432.74 at the onset of trading session, its highest level since 12 September 2016. The Nifty fell 8.60 points, or 0.10% at the day's low of 8,718 in morning trade. The index rose 22.60 points, or 0.26% at the day's high of 8,749.20 at the onset of trading session, its highest level since 9 September 2016.
In overseas stock markets, Asian stocks were mixed as investors grappled with the seemingly diminishing ability of major central banks to stimulate growth, while a tumble in crude oil inflamed already heightened risk aversion. In US, the Dow industrials and the S&P 500 closed in negative territory yesterday, 14 September 2016, in the wake of slumping crude-oil prices, erasing earlier gains for the major benchmarks, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq bucked the losing trend.
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On BSE, 1,176 shares rose and 803 shares fell. A total of 109 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently down 0.47%. The decline in this index was higher than the Sensex's decline in percentage terms. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.27%, outperforming the Sensex.
Pharmaceutical shares were in demand. Piramal Enterprises (up 2.43%), Wockhardt (up 1.77%), Cadila Healthcare (up 1.52%), Aurobindo Pharma (up 1.15%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (up 1.08%), Cipla (up 0.85%), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (up 0.81%), Divi's Laboratories (up 0.73%), Strides Shasun (up 0.60%), Lupin (up 0.55%), IPCA Laboratories (up 0.52%), Dr Reddy's Laboratories (up 0.42%) and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (up 0.09%), edged higher. Alkem Laboratories was down 0.24%.
Power generation and distribution stocks were mixed. Power Grid Corporation of India (down 0.98%), Reliance Infrastructure (down 0.85%), GMR Infrastructure (down 0.41%), Jaiprakash Power Ventures (down 0.41%), Coal India (down 0.32%), Adani Power (down 0.18%), JSW Energy (down 0.18%) and Reliance Power (down 0.09%), edged lower. NTPC (up 0.19%), NHPC (up 0.37%), Tata Power (up 1.46%), Torrent Power (up 1.65%) and CESC (up 2.24%), edged higher.
Reliance Communications (RCom) gained 1.67% to Rs 51.90 after the company and Maxis Communications Berhad (MCB), promoter of Aircel, a leading pan-India mobile operator signed definitive documents for the merger of their Indian wireless businesses-the largest-ever consolidation in the Indian telecom sector. The RCom-Aircel combination will create a strong operator ranked amongst India's top 4 telecom companies by customer base and revenues, also ranking amongst the top 3 operators by revenues in 12 important circles.
More From This Section
The merged company will have the second-largest spectrum holding amongst all operators, aggregating 448 MHz across the 850, 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz bands, and will enjoy enhanced business continuity through extended validity of spectrum holdings till 2033-35. RCom and MCB will each hold a 50% stake in the merged entity with equal representation on the board of directors and all committees. The company will be managed by an independent professional team under the supervision of the board. RCom's overall debt will reduce by Rs 20000 crore ($3 billion) or over 40% of its total debt, and Aircel's debt will reduce by Rs 4000 crore ($600 million), upon completion of the transaction in 2017.
Separately, RCom's consolidated net profit rose 5.88% to Rs 54 crore on 3.75% decline in total income to Rs 5361 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 14 September 2016. The company's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin dropped to 29.1% in Q1 June 2016 from 34% in Q1 June 2015.
Powered by Capital Market - Live News