Key benchmark indices trimmed intraday gains in afternoon trade as European stocks reversed initial gains. At 13:16 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 163.69 points or 0.6% at 27,308.60. The gains for the Nifty 50 index were lower than those for the Sensex in percentage terms. The Nifty was currently up 43.85 points or 0.53% at 8,372.20. The market sentiment was positive after pick up of monsoon rains during the weekend. Gains in Asian stocks aided the upmove on the domestic bourses.
The Sensex rose 148.62 points or 0.54% at the day's low of 27,293.53 at the onset of the trading session. The barometer index jumped 240.75 points or 0.88% at the day's high of 27,385.66 in early afternoon trade, its highest level since 26 October 2015. The Nifty rose 43.05 points or 0.51% at the day's low of 8,371.40 in afternoon trade. The index rose 70.10 points or 0.84% at the day's high of 8,398.45 in early afternoon trade, its highest level since 20 August 2015.
The market sentiment was positive after pick up of monsoon rains during the weekend. The monsoon rains have reportedly covered nearly all of India except some parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Rainfall has picked up in central and northern India in the last few weeks, helping to narrow the rainfall deficit in the current season to 6%, sharply down from 18% in the first week of June. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rains to be above normal in July and August 2016. The quantum of the rainfall and its spatial and temporal distribution are critical for the country's agriculture. Around 70% of the country's farmlands are rain-fed.
In overseas stock markets, European stocks reversed initial gains. Chinese stocks led gains in Asian markets as expectations increased that global central banks might ease monetary policy following Britain's vote to leave the European Union (EU) last month. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite ended 1.91% higher. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was currently up 1.2%.
US stocks edged higher during the previous trading session on Friday, 1 July 2016, after better-than-expected manufacturing data and on fading worries about the Brexit, or British exit from the EU. US market will remain shut today, 4 July 2016, on account of Independence Day holiday.
Closer home, the broad market depicted strength. There were more than two gainers against every loser on BSE. 1,700 shares rose and 830 shares declined. A total of 146 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.65%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 1.05%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
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Stocks of PSU banks surged. Syndicate Bank (up 6.2%), Corporation Bank (up 5.58%), Punjab National Bank (up 5.56%), Bank of India (up 4.7%), Indian Bank (up 4.59%), IDBI Bank (up 4.16%), Union Bank of India (up 3.07%), Canara Bank (up 3.18%), Bank of Baroda (up 2.43%) and State Bank of India (up 1.53%) edged higher.
Stocks of private sector banks declined. Axis Bank (down 0.06%), Kotak Mahindra Bank (down 0.93%), IndusInd Bank (down 0.84%) and Yes Bank (down 0.41%) edged lower. ICICI Bank (up 2.16%) edged higher.
Index heavyweight HDFC Bank was up 0.07% at Rs 1,174.75. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,178.75 and a low of Rs 1,171.65 so far during the day.
IT stocks gained on renewed buying. HCL Technologies (up 1.84%), Tech Mahindra (up 1.5%), Wipro (up 0.86%), TCS (up 0.59%) and Oracle Financial Services Software (up 0.19%) edged higher.
Index heavyweight and software major Infosys was up 1.01% at Rs 1,183.90. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,194.80 and a low of Rs 1,176 so far during the day.
Tata Steel was up 1.08% at Rs 330.90 after the company on provisional basis reported a 5.7% rise in saleable steel production at 2.356 million tonnes in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. Hot metal production rose 16.4% to 3.012 million tonnes in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. Crude steel production was up 7.7% to 2.525 million tonnes in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. The announcement was made during market hours today, 4 July 2016.
L&T rose 1.54% at Rs 1,564.40, with the stock extending previous trading session's gains triggered by media reports that the company has secured an order worth Rs 4500 crore from the defence ministry for the supply of 100 new mobile artillery guns. The stock had risen 2.97% to settle at Rs 1,540.65 on Friday, 1 July 2016.
SEAMEC surged 4.54% at Rs 106 after the company announced an arrangement with its promoter company HAL Offshore for charter hire of its vessel SEAMEC-II for three years. SEAMEC's promoter HAL Offshore (HAL) has been awarded a letter of intent (LoI) by ONGC for charter hire of a multi support vessel for three years. It has been agreed between SEAMEC and HAL for chartering SEAMEC's vessel SEAMEC-II to HAL along with the marine crew. The total contract value for three years is about $27.69 million. The vessel will be deployed after the completion of some regulatory formalities.
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