Key benchmark indices edged higher in a choppy trading session after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced reduction in Statutory Liquidity Ratio by 50 basis points for commercial banks after a monetary policy review today, 3 June 2014, so as to give banks more freedom to expand credit to the non-government sector. The market sentiment was boosted by the RBI's announcement after the monetary policy review to allow foreign portfolio investors to participate in the domestic exchange traded currency derivatives market to the extent of their underlying exposures plus an additional $10 million. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, and the 50-unit CNX Nifty, both attained record closing high. The Sensex garnered 173.74 points or 0.7%, up close to 230 points from the day's low and off about 35 points from the day's high. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market was strong. The BSE Small-Cap index rose more than 1%, outperforming the Sensex.
Indian stocks edged higher for the second day in a row today, 3 June 2014. From a recent low of 24,217.34 on 30 May 2014, the Sensex has gained 641.25 points or 2.64% in two trading sessions. The Sensex has gained 3,687.91 points or 17.41% in calendar year 2014 so far (till 3 June 2014). From a 52-week low of 17,448.71 on 28 August 2013, the Sensex has risen 7,409.88 points or 42.46%. From a record intraday high of 25,375.63 on 16 May 2014, the Sensex has fallen 517.04 points or 2.03%.
Coming back to today's trade, bank stocks edged lower in choppy trade after the RBI after a monetary policy review today, 3 June 2014, announced reduction in the statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) of scheduled commercial banks by 50 basis points to 22.5% of their NDTL from 23% with effect from the fortnight beginning 14 June 2014. Realty stocks rose. Shares of fast moving electrical goods maker Havells India hit record high.
Key benchmark indices edged higher in early trade on firm Asian stocks. A bout of volatility was witnessed as key benchmark indices recovered from lower level after giving away almost entire intraday gains in morning trade. High volatility was witnessed in mid-morning trade as key benchmark indices regained positive terrain and hit fresh intraday high after nose-diving into the negative terrain from positive terrain soon after the Reserve Bank of India kept its main lending rate viz. the repo rate unchanged while cutting the Statutory Liquidity Ratio by 50 basis points after a monetary policy review. The RBI's monetary policy announcement came at 11:00 IST. Volatility continued in early afternoon trade as key benchmark indices surged and hit fresh intraday after slipping into the red once again in mid-morning trade. A bout of volatility was witnessed as key benchmark indices trimmed gains in mid-afternoon trade. The Sensex extended gains in late trade.
The market sentiment was boosted by data showing that foreign funds remained net buyers of Indian stocks on Monday, 2 June 2014. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 234.49 crore on Monday, 2 June 2014, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.
The S&P BSE Sensex garnered 173.74 points or 0.7% to settle at 24,858.59, a record closing high for the index. The index jumped 207.21 points at the day's high of 24,892.06 in mid-afternoon trade. The index fell 57.88 points at the day's low of 24,626.97 in mid-morning trade.
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The CNX Nifty garnered 53.35 points or 0.72% to settle at 7,414.85, a record closing high for the index. The index hit a high of 7,424.95 and a low of 7,342.15 in intraday trade.
The BSE Mid-Cap index garnered 54.54 points or 0.63% to settle at 8,705.06, underperforming the Sensex. The BSE Small-Cap index garnered 108.95 points or 1.18% to settle at 9,305.87, outperforming the Sensex.
The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 4044 crore, higher than Rs 3619.14 crore on Monday, 2 June 2014.
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market was strong. On BSE, 1,921 shares rose and 1,089 shares fell. A total of 96 shares were unchanged.
Among the 30 Sensex shares, 17 rose and the remaining shares declined.
Auto stocks were mixed. Tata Motors shed 0.15% to Rs 420.45. The stock was volatile. The stock hit high of Rs 423.85 and low of Rs 416.15. The company's total sales (including exports) of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles fell 24% to 37,525 vehicles in May 2014 over May 2013. The company's domestic sales of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles fell 24% to 34,334 units in May 2014 over May 2013.
The company's sales of commercial vehicles fell 27% to 25,104 units in May 2014 over May 2013. The company's sales from exports fell 18% to 3,191 units in May 2014 over May 2013. The sales figures were announced after trading hours on Monday, 2 June 2014.
Separately, Tata Motors after trading hours on Monday, 2 June 2014, said that Mr Ravi Kant has retired as Non-Executive Vice Chairman from the company's board of directors on 31 May 2014 on attaining the age of 70 as per the company's retirement policy. The board of directors placed on record their appreciation of Mr Kant's contribution during his tenure with the company including as Managing Director for the period 29 July 2005 to 1 June 2009 and thereafter in his capacity as Non-Executive Vice Chairman, Tata Motors said in a statement.
Maruti Suzuki India rose 0.65%, with the stock extending Monday's gains triggered by the company reporting strong sales in May. The company's total sales rose 19.2% to 1 lakh units in May 2014 over May 2013. Domestic sales rose 16.4% to 90,560 units in May 2014 over May 2013. Exports jumped 51.2% to 10,365 units in May 2014 over May 2013. The sales figures were announced on Monday, 2 June 2014.
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) fell 0.77%. The company announced on 1 June 2014 that its auto sales numbers stood at 37,869 units in May 2014. Domestic sales fell 15.68% to 35,499 units in May 2014 over May 2013. Exports rose 75% to 2,370 units in May 2014 over May 2013. The Passenger Vehicles segment (which includes UVs and the Verito) sold 18,085 units in May 2014, as against 22,244 units during May 2013. The 4-wheelers commercial segment sold 12,836 units, while the 3-wheelers segment clocked 3,732 units in May 2014.
Mahindra & Mahindra's Farm Equipment Sector (FES), maintained its leadership position in the Indian tractor industry during May 2014. Total sales rose 1% to 23,940 units in May 2014 over May 2013. Domestic sales rose 3% to 23,132 units in May 2014 over May 2013. Exports fell 30% to 808 units in May 2014 over May 2013.
Mahindra Two Wheelers (MTWL), on 1 June 2014 announced its sales numbers which stood at 16,824 units during May 2014. The company's domestic sales rose 131% at 15878 units in May 2014 over May 2013. Exports for the month stood at 946 units.
Ashok Leyland rose 1.67% to Rs 33.40. The stock was volatile. The stock hit high of Rs 33.90 and low of Rs 32.45. The company said its total sales fell 9% to 6632 units in May 2014 over May 2013. Total sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCV) fell 1% to 4,884 units, while total sales of light commercial vehicles (LCV) declined 25% to 1,748 units in May 2014 over May 2013. The sales figures were announced after trading hours on Monday, 2 June 2014.
Eicher Motors rose 5.41% after the company reported strong motorcycle sales in May. The company reported 86% rise in total motorcycle sales to 25,011 units in May 2014 over May 2013. The company made the announcement after market hours on Monday, 2 June 2014.
Eicher Motors reported 89% jump in sales of motorcycles with engine capacity upto 350cc during the month of May 2014 at 22,357 units as compared to 11,803 units in May 2013.
The company also reported robust 62% growth in sales of motorcycles with engine capacity exceeding 350cc at 2,654 units in May 2014 as against 1,643 units in May 2013.
The exports stood at 501 units in May 2014 as compared to 423 units in May 2013, a growth of 18%.
Eicher Motors had announced on Sunday, 1 June 2014, that Eicher branded trucks and buses recorded sales of 3,685 units in May 2014 as compared to 3,687 units in May 2013, representing a marginal decline of 0.05%.
Bajaj Auto dropped 0.35% to Rs 1,968.95. The stock hit high of Rs 1,991.10 and low of Rs 1,961.55. The company's total sales rose 4% to 3.51 lakh units in May 2014 over May 2013. Motorcycles sales rose 3% to 3.13 lakh units in May 2014 over May 2013. Commercial vehicles sales rose 11% to 38,416 units in May 2014 over May 2013. Exports jumped 40% to 1.56 lakh units in May 2014 over May 2013. The sales figures were announced on Monday, 2 June 2014.
TVS Motor Company gained 0.96%. The company said on Monday, 2 June 2014 that its total sales rose 27% to 2.1 lakh units in May 2014 over May 2013. Exports rose 42% to 34,623 units in May 2014 over May 2013. Total two wheeler sales rose 26% to 2.01 lakh units in May 2014 over May 2013. Three wheeler sales rose 56% to 9,059 units in May 2014 over May 2013.
Hero MotoCorp rose 2.96%, with the stock extending Monday's gains triggered by the company's strong sales in May. Continuing its growth trajectory, Hero MotoCorp (HMCL), reported all-time high despatch sales for a non-festive month. Riding on robust volumes driven by new launches, Hero MotoCorp sold 6.02 lakh units of two-wheelers in May 2014 -- its highest-ever despatch sales for any non-festival period. The previous highest was in the preceding month, i.e., April 2014 when the company sold 5.71 lakh units-thus highlighting HMCL's sustained volume growth since the beginning of FY 2015.
The sales registered in May 2014 represents a growth of eight per cent over the corresponding month in the previous year, when the company had sold 5.57 lakh units. The company announced sales figures on 1 June 2014.
In May 2014, HMCL crossed the landmark six lakh sales figure for the second time, thus representing second-highest monthly sales ever. The all-time high monthly sales of the company was recorded in the festival month of October last year when it sold 6.25 lakh units of two-wheelers.
Cement stocks advanced. ACC (2.55%), Ambuja Cements (up 3.54%), Shree Cement (up 2.44%) and UltraTech Cements (up 4.46%) gained.
Grasim Industries jumped 5.53% to Rs 3,332 after hitting 52-week high of Rs 3,342.70 in intraday trade.
Metal shares extended Monday's rise triggered by strong Chinese data. China is the world's largest consumer of copper and aluminum. Hindustan Zinc (up 5.9%), JSW Steel (up 3.98%), Hindalco Industries (up 3.33%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 3.26%), Bhushan Steel (up 0.61%) and NMDC (up 2.7%), edged higher.
Sesa Sterlite surged 6.53% to Rs 297.90 after hitting 52-week high of Rs 299.50 in intraday trade.
Shares of Tata Steel and Steel Authority of India extended Monday's gains triggered by reports the two steel makers have restarted most of their iron ore mines in Odisha state after getting new permits from the Odisha state government. Steel Authority of India (Sail) was up 4.25% at Rs 95.60.
Tata Steel gained 6.69% to Rs 525.75 after hitting 52-week high of Rs 527.15 in intraday trade.
A total of eight mines in Odisha, which have an annual combined capacity of 20 million metric tons and received new mining leases, have resumed ore extraction, according to reports. These include four mines of Tata Steel, three of Steel Authority and one belonging to Orissa Mining Corp.
The Supreme Court on 16 May 2014 ordered suspension of mining at 26 quarries in Odisha, pending renewal of extraction leases from the state government. The court gave six months to the state to dispose all applications for renewing permits and asked it to first process the applications for mines owned by steel makers.
Capital goods stocks gained. ABB (India) (up 1.21%), Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) (up 3.48%), Crompton Greaves (up 4.64%), Siemens (up 2.64%) and Thermax (up 1.28%) gained.
L&T rose 0.49% to Rs 1,653.50, with the stock extending Monday's sharp gains triggered by strong Q4 result. The stock hit record high of Rs 1,673.95 in intraday trade. The scrip hit low of Rs 1,643.40 in intraday trade. The company's net profit surged 69% to Rs 2723.48 crore on 11% growth in gross revenue to Rs 20229 crore in Q4 March 2014 over Q4 March 2013. The strong growth in bottom-line can be explained by strong operating performance and higher extraordinary income. The result was announced after market hours on Friday, 30 May 2014.
Consequent to completion of demerger of hydro carbon business to wholly owned subsidiary effective from 1 April 2013 in pursuant to approval of said demerger scheme by Bombay High Court vide its order dated 20 December 2013, the numbers of corresponding previous quarter/nine month and FY 2013 figures were restated and the growth figures are in comparison to restated P&L figures
The growth in L&T's top line during Q4 March 2014 was due to progress in various jobs under execution. The international revenue rose 25% to Rs 2966 crore in Q4 March 2014 over Q4 March 2013. International revenue constituted 15% of total revenue in Q4 March 2014.
L&T's order intake during the quarter was steady at Rs 26737 crore. International order inflow during the quarter at Rs 11389 crore constituted 43% of the total order inflow for the quarter.
The order book at Rs 162952 crore as at 31 March 2014, grew 13% on YoY basis. International order book constituted 21% of the total order book, L&T said in a statement.
With regard to future business outlook, L&T said it has weathered the challenging times of the past few years due to its inherent capabilities and strong balance sheet. Being well positioned to tap the emerging opportunities in its core businesses, the company looks forward to a period of renewed investment momentum and sustainable growth. Given its large order book, the company is optimistic to maintain its growth momentum in the medium term, as domestic and global economic environment improves, L&T said in a statement.
Bank stocks edged lower in choppy trade after the RBI after a monetary policy review today, 3 June 2014, announced reduction in the statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) of scheduled commercial banks by 50 basis points to 22.5% of their NDTL from 23% with effect from the fortnight beginning 14 June 2014.
ICICI Bank fell 0.28% to Rs 1,458.25. The stock hit high of Rs 1,477.30 and low of Rs 1,441.55.
IndusInd Bank (down 2.36%), Kotak Mahindra Bank (down 1.42%), and Axis Bank (down 0.12%) declined. But, HDFC Bank rose 0.25%.
Yes Bank rose 0.35% to Rs 577. The stock hit high of Rs 586 and low of Rs 568.15. The bank said during market hours that with respect to the qualified institutional placement (QIP) by the bank, the capital raising committee of the bank today, 3 June 2014, passed resolutions declaring the closure of QIP today, 3 June 2014 and also determined and approved the issue price of Rs 550 per share at a discount of Rs 0.04 per share on the floor price of Rs 550.04 per share. The QIP was opened on 29 May 2014.
Among PSU bank stocks, Canara Bank (down 0.35%), Union Bank of India (down 1.26%), Bank of Baroda (down 0.75%) and Punjab National Bank (down 0.77%) declined.
State Bank of India (SBI) fell 0.03% to Rs 2,643.30. The stock hit high of Rs 2,688.75 and low of Rs 2,621.
The Reserve Bank of India has allowed banks to distribute the additional provisioning on unhedged foreign currency exposure equally in the current fiscal year instead of providing the entire amount in the June quarter, it said in a release today, 3 June 2014. However, the RBI has declined such a relaxation on overall capital requirements. The RBI also clarified that incremental provisioning for unhedged forex exposures will be treated as general provisioning under Tier II capital. Incremental provisioning on such exposures would require banks to provide 10 basis points over and above standard asset provisioning, the RBI said.
Realty stocks rose. DLF (up 4.89%), D B Realty (up 5.76%), Housing Development & Infrastructure (up 1.43%) and Unitech (up 4.2%) gained.
Sugar stocks surged on report the government is planning revival of sugar industries by pushing ethanol blending in petrol and releasing arrears of cane growers in Uttar Pradesh. Bajaj Hindusthan (up 9.82%), Balrampur Chini Mills (up 7.79%) and Shree Renuka Sugars (up 10.44%) jumped.
According to the report, revival of sugar industries by pushing ethanol blending in petrol and releasing arrears of cane growers in Uttar Pradesh have become priorities for the Narendra Modi government.
The corridors of road transport and highways, heavy industries and food ministries were abuzz with talk of government's thrust on ethanol ever since road transport minister Nitin Gadkari asked his ministry to study whether auto companies can import E85 engines, used in countries such as Brazil and Canada, into India, report added.
E85 engines use a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol.
Shares of fast moving electrical goods maker Havells India surged 7.44% to Rs 1,053.40. The stock hit record high of Rs 1,065 in intraday trade.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged lower against the dollar amid speculation state-owned banks are buying dollars. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 59.40, compared with its close of 59.1525/1625 on Monday, 2 June 2014.
The Reserve Bank of India kept its main lending rate viz. the repo rate unchanged at 8% and also kept the cash reserve ratio (CRR) of scheduled banks unchanged at 4% of net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) after a monetary policy review today, 3 June 2014. The central bank announced reduction in the statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) of scheduled commercial banks by 50 basis points to 22.5% of their NDTL from 23% with effect from the fortnight beginning 14 June 2014. A reduction in the required SLR will give banks more freedom to expand credit to the non-government sector, the RBI said. The Reserve Bank of India is also cognizant of the significant on-going financing needs of the government. Therefore, the SLR is reduced by 0.5% of NDTL, with any further change dependent on the likely path of fiscal consolidation, the central bank said in a statement.
The RBI has reduced the liquidity provided under the export credit refinance (ECR) facility from 50% of eligible export credit outstanding to 32% with immediate effect. In pursuance of the Dr. Urjit R. Patel Committee's recommendation to move away from sector-specific refinance towards a more generalised provision of system liquidity without preferential access to any particular sector or entity, the Reserve Bank of India has decided to limit access to export credit refinance while compensating fully with a commensurate expansion of the market's access to liquidity through a special term repo facility from the Reserve Bank of India, equivalent to 0.25% per cent of NDTL. This should improve access to liquidity from the Reserve Bank of India for the system as a whole without the procedural formalities relating to documentary evidence, authorisation and verification associated with the ECR. This should also improve the transmission of policy impulses across the interest rate spectrum and engender efficiency in cash/treasury management, the RBI said.
Retail inflation measured by the consumer price index (CPI) increased for the second consecutive month in April, pushed up by a sharp spike in food inflation, especially in the prices of fruits, vegetables, sugar, pulses and milk. CPI inflation excluding food and fuel has moderated gradually since September 2013 although it is still elevated. In March and April, CPI headline inflation has risen on the back of a sharp increase in food prices. Some of this price pressure will continue into May, but it is largely seasonal, the RBI said. Moreover, CPI inflation excluding food and fuel has been edging down.
The risks to RBI's forecast of 8% CPI inflation by January 2015 remain broadly balanced, the RBI said. Upside risks in the form of a sub-normal/delayed monsoon on account of possible El Nino effects, geo-political tensions and their impact on fuel prices, and uncertainties surrounding the setting of administered prices appear at this stage to be balanced by the possibility of stronger government action on food supply and better fiscal consolidation as well as the pass through of recent exchange rate appreciation. Accordingly, at this juncture, it is appropriate to leave the policy rate unchanged, and to allow the disinflationary effects of rate increases undertaken during September 2013-January 2014 to mitigate inflationary pressures in the economy, the RBI said.
The Reserve Bank of India remains committed to keeping the economy on a disinflationary course, taking CPI inflation to 8% by January 2015 and 6% by January 2016, the RBI said. If the economy stays on this course, further policy tightening will not be warranted, the central bank said. On the other hand, if disinflation, adjusting for base effects, is faster than currently anticipated, it will provide headroom for an easing of the policy stance, the RBI said.
Lead indicators point to continuing sluggishness in domestic economic activity in Q1 June 2014, the RBI said. The outlook for agriculture is clouded by the meteorological department's forecasts of a delay in the onset of the south-west monsoon with a 60% chance of the occurrence of El Nino. The ongoing contraction in the production of consumer durables and capital goods, coupled with moderation in corporate sales and non-oil non-gold imports, is indicative of continuing weakness in both consumption and investment demand, the RBI said. The decisive election result, together with improved sentiment should, however, create a conducive environment for comprehensive policy actions and a revival in aggregate demand as well as a gradual recovery of growth during the course of the year, the RBI said.
Since the first bi-monthly monetary policy statement of April 2014, global economic activity is evolving at different speeds, the RBI said. A broad-based strengthening of growth is gaining traction in the US and the UK, after a moderation in the first quarter of 2014 due to adverse weather conditions. However, in the euro area, recovery is struggling to gather momentum. The pick-up in sales in Japan in anticipation of the consumption tax hike has been followed by a sharp fall in consumer spending. Growth in coming quarters will depend on all three "arrows" being put in play. Structural constraints continue to impede growth prospects in emerging market economies (EMEs), with concerns about the slowdown in China as its economy rebalances. Financial markets across the world still remain vulnerable to news about the impending normalisation of interest rates in some developed economies, even as some valuations appear frothy, the RBI said.
Contingent upon the desired inflation outcome, the RBI's April projection of India's real GDP growth of 5% to 6% in 2014-15 is retained with risks evenly balanced around the central estimate of 5.5% growth, the central bank said. The outlook for the agricultural sector is contingent upon the timely arrival and spread of the monsoon. Easing of domestic supply bottlenecks and progress in the implementation of stalled projects should brighten the outlook for both manufacturing and services, the RBI said. The resumption of export growth is a positive development and as world trade gathers momentum, the prospects for exports should improve further, the central bank said.
The RBI said that with a view to improving the depth and liquidity in the domestic foreign exchange market, it has been decided to allow foreign portfolio investors to participate in the domestic exchange traded currency derivatives market to the extent of their underlying exposures plus an additional $10 million. Furthermore, it has also been decided to allow domestic entities similar access to the exchange traded currency derivatives market.
As a prudential measure, the eligibility limit for foreign exchange remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) had been reduced to $75,000 last year. In view of the recent stability in the foreign exchange market, it has been decided to enhance the eligible limit to $125,000 without end use restrictions except for prohibited foreign exchange transactions such as margin trading, lottery and the like.
The Eight Core Industries, having a combined weight of 37.9% in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), recorded a 4.2% increase in output during April 2014. Coal production increased 3.3%, while the electricity generation increased 11.2% in April 2014 over April 2013. The production of fertilizer increased 11.1%, while that of steel and cement also galloped 3.1% and 6.7% in April 2014. However, the output of crude oil declined 0.1%, while that of the natural gas and petroleum refinery also dipped 7.7% and 2.2% in April 2014.
Markit Economics will unveil the result of a monthly survey on the performance of India's services sector for May 2014 tomorrow, 4 June 2014.
Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde died after a head-on road collision in New Delhi early in the morning today, 3 June 2014. Munde, appointed just over a week ago to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new government, suffered serious injuries while driving to the airport and died in hospital. Munde, 64, died in hospital from cardiac arrest.
Finance minister Arun Jaitley is expected to table Union Budget for 2014-15 in Lok Sabha by July 2014. An interim budget was presented by P. Chidambaram in February this year. Essentially, in the nature of a vote on account, the interim budget was intended to get Parliament approval for expenditure to be incurred during the first few months of fiscal year 2014-15 due to Lok Sabha elections.
The First Meeting of the Special Investigating Team (SIT) was held on Monday under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice M.B. Shah, former Judge of the Supreme Court. During the meeting, detailed modalities of proceeding further with the Supreme Court mandate were discussed and the roadmap decided. SIT was recently constituted to implement the decision of the Supreme Court on large amounts of money stashed abroad by evading taxes or generated through unlawful activities. The next meeting of the SIT will be convened shortly to take stock of the follow-up of the decisions taken in the First Meeting of SIT on Monday.
European shares edged lower on Tuesday, 3 June 2014, after a fall in euro zone inflation cemented the case for the European Central Bank to ease monetary policy later this week. Key benchmark indices in UK, Germany and France were off 0.1% to 0.38%.
Euro-area inflation fell to 0.5% in May 2014 from 0.7% in April, the European Union's statistics office in Luxembourg said today, 3 June 2014.
There are expectations that the European Central Bank (ECB) will announce new stimulus measures when the Governing Council of the ECB holds a monthly meeting on euro area interest rates on Thursday, 5 June 2014.
Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee will probably keep its benchmark interest rate at a record-low 0.5% and leave its bond-purchase program unchanged at a monthly meeting on interest rates in UK on Thursday, 5 June 2014.
Asian stocks edged higher on Tuesday, 3 June 2014, as concern eased about a slowdown in China, the world's second-largest economy. Key benchmark indices in Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan were up 0.33% to 0.91%. However, key benchmark indices in China and Singapore were down by 0.04% to 0.17%.
A Chinese manufacturing gauge rose to a four-month high, signaling that the economy is stabilizing even as job cuts and weakness in the property market underscore pressure on the government to do more to support growth. A Purchasing Managers' Index from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics was at 49.4 in May, up from 48.1 in April.
The data came two days after a government gauge signaled the fastest growth in five months. Levels below 50 still signal contraction in the sector. China's official Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 50.8 in May, the highest level since December, a June 1 report showed.
China's non-manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 55.5 in May from a previously reported 54.8 in April, according to data released by the Beijing-based National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.
The Reserve Bank of Australia kept its benchmark cash rate at a record low as fiscal consolidation adds to a mining investment slowdown as a brake on growth. The key rate was held at 2.5% for a 10th month, Governor Glenn Stevens and his board announced in Sydney today, repeating an expectation for a period of stability in rates.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could fall 16 points at the opening bell on Tuesday, 3 June 2014. The Dow Jones Industrial Aerage and the S&P 500 index finished at record highs again on Monday after a closely watched read on US manufacturing was revised to show more strength than initially indicated in May.
Manufacturing expanded in May at the fastest pace this year as American assembly-line workers responded to increased orders by cranking up production. The Institute for Supply Management's factory index rose to 55.4 from the prior month's 54.9. Readings above 50 indicate expansion. The release of the data, watched closely by financial markets as a gauge of the economy's strength, was anything but smooth. Twice the Tempe, Arizona-based group had to amend its figures due to calculation errors.
The influential US nonfarm payroll data for May 2014 is due for release on Friday, 6 June 2014.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) next undertakes monetary policy review at a two-day meeting on 17-18 June 2014. The Fed on 30 April 2014 said after a monetary policy review that it will keep the benchmark interest-rate target at almost zero for a "considerable time" after its bond-buying program ends. The FOMC also reduced monthly debt purchases to $45 billion, its fourth straight $10 billion cut, and said further reductions are likely in "measured steps" if the economy continues to improve.
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