Amid high intraday volatility, key benchmark indices registered decent gains after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced higher infrastructure spending, a phased reduction in corporate tax over the next four years and deferred the implementation of General Anti Avoidance Rule (GAAR) by two years at the time of presenting Union Budget 2015-16 in parliament today, 28 February 2015. The finance minister also made a number of announcements on financial markets. Banking and pharma stocks rose. Index heavyweights Infosys and Reliance Industries (RIL) edged higher. Shares of another index heavyweight and cigarette major ITC tumbled after the Finance Minister proposed increase in excise duty on cigarettes in the Budget.
The barometer index, the BSE Sensex, regained the psychological 29,000 mark after falling below that level in intraday trade. The Sensex rose 141.38 points or 0.48% to settle at 29,361.50, its highest closing level in more than a week. The Sensex fell 338.10 points at the day's low of 28,882.02 in afternoon trade. The index jumped 340.20 points at the day's high of 29,560.32 in mid-morning trade. The 50-unit CNX Nifty attained its highest closing level in more than four weeks. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was negative.
Pharma stocks rose after Jaitley in Union Budget 2015-16 allotted Rs 33152 crore to the health sector in the schemes for the poor.
Due to Union Budget 2015-16, a live trading session was conducted on the bourses today, 28 February 2015, despite it being a Saturday. Trading began at 9:15 IST and concluded at 15:30 IST.
The S&P BSE Sensex rose 141.38 points or 0.48% to settle at 29,361.50, its highest closing level since 19 February 2015. The Sensex fell 338.10 points at the day's low of 28,882.02 in afternoon trade. The index jumped 340.20 points at the day's high of 29,560.32, its highest level since 30 January 2015.
The CNX Nifty rose 57.25 points or 0.65% to settle at 8,901.85, its highest closing level since 29 January 2015. The index hit a low of 8,751.35 in intraday trade. The index hit a high of 8,941.10 in intraday trade, its highest level since 30 January 2015.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was negative. 1,498 shares declined and 1,230 shares gained. A total of 141 shares were unchanged.
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The BSE Mid-Cap index fell 0.61 points or 0.01% to settle at 10,810.85. The BSE Small-Cap index fell 53.12 points or 0.47% to settle at 11,266.44. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.
The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 4214 crore, lower than Rs 4357.07 crore yesterday, 27 February 2015.
Among the sectoral indices on BSE, the S&P BSE Teck index (up 0.53%), the S&P BSE IT index (up 0.76%), the S&P BSE Oil & Gas index (up 0.87%), the S&P BSE Auto index (up 1.08%), the S&P BSE Healthcare index (up 2.03%) and the S&P BSE Bankex (up 3.27%), outperformed the Sensex. The S&P BSE FMCG index (down 4.09%), the S&P BSE Consumer Durables index (down 2.05%), the S&P BSE Power index (down 1.15%), the S&P BSE Realty index (down 0.9%), the S&P BSE Capital Goods index (down 0.26%) and the S&P BSE Metal index (down 0.22%), underperformed the Sensex.
Shares of private sector banks rose after the Finance Minister said that the government intends to do away with the distinction between different types of foreign investments, especially between foreign portfolio investments and foreign direct investments, and replace them with composite caps. Axis Bank (up 8.15%), IndusInd Bank (up 6.07%), ING Vysya Bank (up 5.70%), Yes Bank (up 5.10%), Kotak Mahindra Bank (up 4.57%), ICICI Bank (up 3.15%), HDFC Bank (up 1.29%) and Federal Bank (up 0.14%), edged higher. City Union Bank fell 0.60%
Public sector banks were mixed. Indian Bank (down 2.99%), Union Bank of India (down 2.39%), IDBI Bank (down 1.79%), Vijaya Bank (down 1.03%), UCO Bank (down 0.62%), Bank of India (down 0.57%), Bank of Maharashtra (down 0.37%), Dena Bank (down 0.36%), Punjab National Bank (down 0.36%) and Allahabad Bank (down 0.09%), edged lower. Andhra Bank (up 0.23%), Syndicate Bank (up 0.29%), United Bank of India (up 0.41%), State Bank of India (up 0.55%), Canara Bank (up 1.83%), Bank of Baroda (up 2.29%) and Corporation Bank (up 2.37%), edged higher.
In order to improve the governance of public sector banks, the government intends to set up an autonomous bank Board Bureau. The Bureau will search and select heads of Public Sector banks and help them in developing differentiated strategies and capital raising plans through innovative financial methods and instruments. This would be an interim step towards establishing a holding and investment company for banks.
Pharma stocks rose after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Union Budget 2015-16 allotted Rs 33152 crore to the health sector in the schemes for the poor. Aurobindo Pharma (up 4.88%), Ranbaxy Laboratories (up 3.74%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (up 3.62%), Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (up 2.82%), Cipla (up 1.84%), Cadila Healthcare (up 1.55%), Divi's Laboratories (up 1.29%), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (up 1.12%), GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (up 0.65%), Lupin (up 0.51%), Strides Arcolab (up 0.48%) and Wockhardt (up 0.08%), edged higher. IPCA Laboratories (down 1.03%) and Piramal Enterprises (down 1.97%), edged lower.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented Union Budget 2015-16 in the parliament today, 28 February 2015. In the budget Arun Jaitley has said that in spite of the large increase in the devolution to states, adequate provision is being made for the schemes for the poor with allocation of Rs 33152 crore to the health sector. He said, with a view to encourage savings and to promote health care among individual tax payers, it is proposed to increase the limit of reduction of health insurance premium from Rs 15000 to Rs 25000 and for senior citizen this limit is being increased from Rs 20000 to Rs 30000. Three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research will be set up in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh and one institute of Science and Education Research will be set up in Nagaland and Odisha each.
FMCG stocks were mixed. Jyothy Laboratories (down 1.59%), Godrej Consumer Products (down 1.15%), GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (down 0.49%), Dabur India (down 0.42%), Tata Global Beverages (down 0.42%), Nestle India (down 0.34%) and Marico (down 0.17%), edged lower. Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care (up 0.46%), Britannia Industries (up 0.49%), Bajaj Corp (up 1.27%), Colgate(down Palmolive (India) (up 1.44%) and Hindustan Unilever (up 2.50%), edged higher.
Index heavyweight and cigarette major ITC slumped 8.27% to Rs 361.25. The stock was volatile. The stock hit a high of Rs 409.70 and a low of Rs 350. Jaitley proposed to increase excise duty on cigarettes by 25% for cigarettes of length not exceeding 65 mm and by 15% for cigarettes of other lengths. Similar increases are proposed on cigars, cheroots and cigarillos. Excise levy on cigarettes and the compounded levy scheme applicable to pan masala, gutkha and other tobacco products also changed, he added.
Multi Commodity Exchange of India jumped 13.04% to Rs 1,191.65. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his first full-fledged Union Budget 2015-16 today, 28 February 2015 said that the government proposes to merge Forward Markets Commission (FMC) with market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). While Sebi is the regulator for the capital markets, the FMC oversees commodities markets.
Realty stocks fell on profit booking. Unitech (down 4.4%), Indiabulls Real Estate (down 3.38%), Anant Raj (down 3.13%), Parsvnath Developers (down 1.91%), Sunteck Realty (down 1.76%), Phoenix Mills (down 1.14%), Godrej Properties (down 0.87%), Sobha (down 0.82%), Housing Development and Infrastructure (HDIL) (down 0.42%) and DLF (down 0.22%), edged lower. Oberoi Realty (up 0.28%), Peninsula Land (up 0.29%), D B Realty (up 0.86%) and Prestige Estates (up 2.13%), edged higher.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his first full-fledged Union Budget 2015-16 announced today, 28 February 2015 said that government proposes to rationalise the capital gains regime for the sponsors exiting at the time of listing of the units of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investments Trusts (InvITs), subject to payment of Securities Transaction Tax (STT). The rental income of REITs from their own assets will have pass through facility, Jaitley said.
Jaitley said that a step was taken in the last Budget to encourage REITs and InvITs by providing partial pass through to them. These collective investment vehicles have an important role to revive construction activity, Jaitley said.
Key indices rose for second consecutive session today, 28 February 2015. The Sensex has risen 614.85 points or 2.14% in two trading sessions from a recent low of 28,746.65 on Thursday, 26 February 2015. The Sensex has fallen 178.55 points or 0.61% in this month so far (till 28 February 2015). The Sensex has risen 1,862.08 points or 6.77% in this calendar year so far (till 28 February 2015). From a 52-week low of 20,920.98 on 3 March 2014, the Sensex has risen 8,440.52 points or 40.34%. The Sensex is off 482.66 points or 1.62% from a record high of 29,844.16 hit on 30 January 2015.
The Finance Minister said that the credibility of the Indian economy has been re-established in the last 9 months and said that the government is targeting a reduction of fiscal deficit to 3% of GDP in 3 years. Jaitely deferred the target of achieving 3% fiscal deficit by a year till FY 2018 from FY 2017 set earlier. The additional fiscal space will go towards funding infrastructure investment, Jaitley said. Jaitley has set fiscal deficit target of 3.9% 2015-16, 3.5% 2016-17 and 3% for 2017-18. The Finance Minister said that the fiscal deficit target of 4.1% of GDP will be met.
The Finance Minister said that GDP growth is expected to accelerate to 8% to 8.5% in FY 2015-16 from 7.4% expected in the current year based on new series. Jaitley announced increase in service tax rate to 14% from 12% plus Education Cess. The new service tax rate shall subsume the Education Cess and Secondary and Higher Education Cess. Jaitley said that the nationwide GST (Goods and Services Tax) will put in place a state-of-the art indirect tax system by 1 April 2016.
Jaitley said that corporate tax rate is proposed to be reduced from the current 30% to 25% over the next 4 years and that the reduction will be accompanied by rationalization and removal of various kinds of exemptions and incentives which is leading to a large number of tax disputes. However, there is no reduction in corporate tax rate for the year 2015-16.
Jaitley announced imposition of 7% surcharge on domestic companies having income exceeding Rs 1 crore and up to Rs 10 crore. Surcharge at 12% is proposed to be levied on domestic companies having income exceeding Rs 10 crore. In the case of foreign companies, the surcharge will continue to be levied at 2% if the income exceeds Rs 1 crore and is up to Rs 10 crore, and at 5% if the income exceeds Rs 10 crore
It is also proposed to levy a surcharge of 12% as against current rate of 10% on additional income tax payable by companies on distribution of dividends and buyback of shares, or by mutual funds and securitization trusts on distribution of income.
The education cess on income tax at 2% for fulfilment of the commitment of the government to provide and finance universalized quality based education and 1% of additional surcharge called 'Secondary and Higher Education Cess' on tax and surcharge is proposed to be continued for the financial year 2015-16 for all taxpayers, Jaitley said.
The finance minister said that there will no change in the rate of personal income-tax for the financial year 2015-16. Jaitley has announced abolishing wealth tax and replace that with additional surcharge of 2% on super rich with a taxable income of over Rs 1 crore annually.
The Finance Minister announced deferring roll out of General Anti Avoidance Rule (GAAR) by two years until 1 April 2017 and said that the GAAR rules will apply to investments made on or after 1 April 2017 when implemented. Jaitley also said that capital gains on sale of shares by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) will not be subject to the provisions of the minimum alternate tax (MAT).
The finance minister announced changes in excise and customs duty rates on some items.
Education Cess and Secondary & Higher Education Cess leviable on excisable goods are being subsumed in Basic Excise duty, according the finance minister's Budget speech document. Consequently, Education Cess and Secondary & Higher Education Cess leviable on excisable goods are being fully exempted. The standard ad valorem rate of Basic Excise Duty is being increased from 12% to 12.5% and specific rates of Basic Excise Duty on petrol, diesel, cement, cigarettes and other tobacco products (other than biris) are being suitably changed. However, the total incidence of various duties of excise on petrol and diesel remains unchanged. Other Basic Excise Duty rates (ad valorem as well as specific) with a few exceptions are not being changed. Customs Education Cesses will continue to be levied on imported goods.
Jaitley said Tax 'pass through' is proposed to be allowed to both Category-I and Category-II Alternative Investment funds, so that tax is levied on investors in these funds and not on the funds per se. He also said the Permanent Establishment (PE) norms are to be modified to encourage offshore fund managers to relocate to India. The modification will be to the effect that mere presence of a fund manager in India would not constitute PE of the offshore funds, as this is resulting in adverse tax consequences currently.
To facilitate technology inflow to small businesses at low costs, the rate of income tax on royalty and fees for technical services is to be reduced from 25% to 10%.
To enhance public spending in the economy, government has significantly enhanced the capital expenditure. Jaitley has proposed an increase in investment in infrastructure by Rs 70,000 crore in the year 2015-16 over the year 2014-15 from the Centre's funds and resources of CPSEs. He has increased outlay on both the roads and the gross budgetary support to the Railways by Rs 14031 crore and Rs 10050 crore. The CAPEX of the public sector units is expected to be Rs 3.17 lakh crore, an increase of about Rs 80844 crore over RE 2014-15.
Jaitley said that the government has entered into a Monetary Policy Framework Agreement with the RBI. This Framework clearly states the objective of keeping inflation below 6%. The RBI Act will be amended this year, to provide for a Monetary Policy Committee.
Jaitley said that the government intends to set up a Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) this year which will bring both India's external borrowings and domestic debt under one roof.
To further simplify the procedures for Indian companies to attract foreign investments, the government intends to do away with the distinction between different types of foreign investments, especially between foreign portfolio investments and foreign direct investments, and replace them with composite caps. The sectors which are already on a 100% automatic route would not be affected.
Jaitley also said that foreign investments in Alternate Investment Funds will be allowed. Tax 'pass through' is proposed to be allowed to both Category-I and Category-II Alternative Investment Funds, so that tax is levied on the investors in these funds and not on the funds per se. This will step up the ability of these funds to mobilise higher resources and make higher investments in small and medium enterprises, infrastructure and social projects and provide the much required private equity to new ventures and start-ups.
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