A bout of volatility was witnessed as key benchmark indices swayed between gains and losses in mid-afternoon trade. Negative global cues spoiled sentiment. However, gains in index pivotals Reliance Industries (RIL) and IT major Wipro supported the bourses at lower levels. At 14:19 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 36.88 points or 0.12% at 31,941.28. The Nifty 50 index was up 8.50 points or 0.09% at 9,881.80. The Sensex was trading below the psychologically important 32,000 mark after crossing that level in intraday trade.
Among secondary barometers, the BSE Mid-Cap index was off 0.08%. The BSE Small-Cap index was off 0.21%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, turned negative from positive. On BSE, 1,464 shares fell and 1,111 shares rose. A total of 141 shares were unchanged.
Most capital goods shares declined. Jindal Saw (down 1.9%), Bharat Heavy Electricals (down 1.43%), SKF India (down 1.19%), Bharat Electronics (down 1.16%), Thermax (down 1.01%), Lakshmi Machine Works (down 0.89%), Punj Lloyd (down 0.77%), BEML (down 0.63%), Havells India (down 0.46%), ABB India (down 0.31%), AIA Engineering (down 0.25%), Crompton Greaves (down 0.17%), GE Power India (down 0.15%) and Siemens (down 0.07%), edged lower. Praj Industries (up 0.06%), Reliance Defence and Engineering (up 0.08%), Suzlon Energy (up 0.27%) and GE T&D India (up 0.74%), edged higher.
Engineering and construction major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) was down 0.94% to Rs 1,175.10. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,189.20 and a low o Rs 1,173.15 so far during the day.
Ashok Leyland lost 3.78% to Rs 101.95 after net profit fell 61.74% to Rs 111.23 crore on 0.37% decline in total income to Rs 4552.79 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016. The result was announced during market hours today, 21 July 2017.
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Ashok Leyland's profitability in Q1 June 2017 was lower, primarily because of a richer mix and exchange gain on swap contracts in Q1 June 2016. The mix is expected to significantly improve in the coming quarters, the company said. The next 3 quarters look promising as the demand is expected to pick up on the back of Government spending on infrastructure as well as positive impact of GST, it added.
Index pivotal Reliance Industries (RIL) advanced 3.03% to Rs 1,575.05 after the company announced during trading hours today, 21 July 2017, that its board of directors recommended 1:1 bonus issue of shares.
The company's consolidated net profit rose 28% to Rs 9108 crore on 26.7% rise in revenue to Rs 90537 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 20 July 2017.
RIL's increase in revenue is primarily on account of increase in prices and volumes of refining and petrochemical products partially offset by lower prices and volumes from exploration and production (E&P) business. Revenue was also boosted by robust growth in retail business which recorded a 73.6% increase in revenue to Rs 11571 crore. Reliance Retail witnessed growth across all consumption baskets during the quarter.
Strong refining and petrochemicals margin environment contributed to higher operating profits for the quarter. Gross refining margins recorded nine-year-high of $ 11.9 per bbl whereas petrochemicals EBIT (earnings before interest and depreciation) margin were at all-time high of 15.8%. Gross refining margin rose to $11.9 per barrel in Q1 June 2017 from $11.5 per barrel in Q1 June 2016.
Meanwhile, the board of directors of RIL considered and approved an investment in Balaji Telefilms (BTL), to acquire 2.52 crore equity shares constituting 24.92% of BTL's equity, through subscription to preferential issue of shares by BTL to RIL for cash consideration of Rs 164 per equity share amounting to an investment of Rs 413.28 crore. This investment in content production (including digital content) is in line with RIL's commitment to invest and grow in telecom digital and media businesses.
Media company Balaji Telefilms rose 1.34% to Rs 189.15 after the company said its board approved preferential issue of 2.52 crore shares of the company at Rs 164 per share, aggregating Rs 413.28 crore to Reliance Industries. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 20 July 2017.
IT major Wipro jumped 6.88% to Rs 287.50 after the company at the time of announcing Q1 results said that its board approved buyback of shares up to Rs 11000 crore.
Wipro's consolidated net profit fell 8.13% to Rs 2082.60 crore on 3.09% fall in net sales to Rs 13626.10 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q4 March 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 20 July 2017. The results are as per International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
The company's consolidated revenue from IT services segment in dollar terms rose 0.9% to $1,971.7 million in Q1 June 2017 over Q4 March 2017.
Jatin Dalal, Chief Financial Officer of Wipro said that the impact on operating margins by rupee appreciation and salary increases was partially offset by strong business efficiencies. The company continues to sustain robust cash generation.
Wipro expects revenue from IT Services business to be in the range of $1,962 million to $2,001 million in Q2 September 2017.
Wipro's board of directors approved a buyback proposal of up to 34.37 crore shares (representing 7.06% of total paid-up equity capital) from the shareholders of the company on a proportionate basis by way of a tender offer at Rs 320 per equity share for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs 11000 crore. Promoters have indicated their intention to participate in the proposed buyback.
Overseas, European equity markets were trading lower, echoing moves in Asia. Most Asian shares declined, taking a breather from recent upmove and after the European Central Bank (ECB) took a dovish stance on policy and its ongoing stimulus program.
ECB left its key interest rates unchanged on Thursday. The ECB also reiterated its plan to purchase 60 billion euros worth of government bonds and other assets each month through December.
US stocks finished mostly lower on Thursday as Home Depot weighed on the Dow, but the Nasdaq bucked the trend to match its best win streak since February 2015 and closed at a record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 28.97 points, or 0.1%, to end at 21,611.78. The Nasdaq Composite Index edged up 4.96 points to close at 6,390, rising for a 10th session in a row. The S&P 500 index slipped 0.38 points to finish at 2,473.45.
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