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Sensex, Nifty hit 4-week low

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Last Updated : Jun 04 2015 | 3:47 PM IST

Key indices extended slide in afternoon trade, tracking weakness in European markets. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, and, the 50-unit CNX Nifty, both, hit their lowest level in 4 weeks. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market turned negative from positive in afternoon trade. The Sensex was currently off 185.96 points or 0.69% at 26,651.24.

Auto stocks declined. Shares of public sector oil marketing companies (PSU OMCs) edged higher. ICICI Bank and IRB Infrastructure Developers dropped on turning ex-dividend today, 4 June 2015.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) yesterday, 3 June 2015 said that conditions are favourable for onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala during next 48 hours.

Foreign portfolio investors sold shares worth a net Rs 727.61 crore yesterday, 3 June 2015, as per provisional data. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 412.66 crore yesterday, 3 June 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.

In overseas markets, European stocks edged lower today, 4 June 2015. Asian stocks were mixed. Overnight, US stocks rose at the end of trade, following positive US economic data and as negotiations between Greece and its international creditors continued to move forward.

At 13:15 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 185.96 points or 0.69% at 26,651.24. The index fell 204.92 points at the day's low of 26,632.28 in afternoon trade, its lowest level since 7 May 2015. The index rose 111.64 points at the day's high of 26,948.84 at the onset of trading session.

The CNX Nifty was down 49.40 points or 0.61% at 8,085.70. The index hit a low of 8,077.05 in intraday trade, its lowest level since 7 May 2015. The index hit a high of 8,160.05 in intraday trade.

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The BSE Mid-Cap index was down 53.03 points or 0.51% at 10,276.43. The BSE Small-Cap index was down 62.39 points or 0.58% at 10,765.79. The decline in both these indices was lower than the Sensex's decline in percentage terms.

The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market turned negative from positive in afternoon trade. On BSE, 1,368 shares fell and 1,026 shares rose. A total of 102 shares were unchanged.

Auto stocks declined. Eicher Motors (down 5.9%), Tata Motors (down 1.88%), Mahindra & Mahindra (down 1.61%), Hero MotoCorp (down 1.38%), Bajaj Auto (down 0.71%) and Maruti Suzuki India (down 0.08%) edged lower. TVS Motor Company (up 1.45%) edged higher.

Shares of public sector oil marketing companies (PSU OMCs) edged higher. BPCL (up 2.21%) and HPCL (up 0.55%) edged higher.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) was up 3.46% at Rs 350. With regard to news item titled "IOC, HPCL in talks with Iraq's SOMO to buy 4m bbls oil for strategic reserves", IOCL after market hours yesterday, 3 June 2015, said that the Government of India has directed IOCL and HPCL to procure crude oil from Iraq for "Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves", a wholly wwned Government company under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas set up for storage of strategic reserves. IOCL has only acted as a facilitator for import, the company said.

ICICI Bank fell 2.53% at Rs 288.50, as the stock turned ex-dividend today, 4 June 2015, for dividend of Rs 5 per share for the year ended 31 March 2015.

IRB Infrastructure Developers fell 1.84% at Rs 237.90, as the stock turned ex-dividend today, 4 June 2015, for interim dividend of Rs 2 per share for the year ended 31 March 2015.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) yesterday, 3 June 2015 said that conditions are favourable for onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala during next 48 hours.

In global commodity markets, Brent crude oil futures edged lower today, 4 June 2015. Brent for July settlement was off 32 cents at $63.48 a barrel. The contract had fallen $1.69 a barrel or 2.58% to settle at $63.80 a barrel during the previous trading session.

Oil cartel OPEC is expected to keep its production target of 30 million barrels of oil per day unchanged at a meeting scheduled in Vienna tomorrow, 5 June 2015. The OPEC meeting is being closely watched for clues about the organization's next moves.

The decline in global crude oil prices and deregulation of diesel price announced by the Indian government in October 2014 will help reduce the government's fuel subsidy burden and help contain its fiscal deficit. The slide in global crude oil prices will also help India in containing its current account deficit and fuel price inflation.

In overseas markets, European stocks edged lower today, 4 June 2015. Key indices in Germany, UK and France were off 0.61% to 1.07%.

France's unemployment rate fell to 10.3% in the first quarter from 10.4% in the previous three months, national statistics office Insee said today, 4 June 2015.

European Central Bank (ECB) left its main interest rates unchanged at record-low levels. Upbeat news around Greece's ability to pay its international creditors later this week also lingered in the market.

Asian stocks were mixed. Key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia were down by 0.21% to 2.18%. Key benchmark indices in China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea were up by 0.07% to 0.76%.

China revised down its estimate of consumption's contribution to economic growth last year, trimming the figure to 50.2% from 51.2% previously. Investment and exports contributed 48.5% and 1.3%, respectively to gross domestic product in 2014, the National Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday. Consumption contributed an average 52.9% annually to the country's GDP over the past five years, official data showed. Investment averaged 51.2% while exports averaged a negative 4.1%.

Overnight, US stocks rose at the end of trade, following positive US economic data and as negotiations between Greece and its international creditors continued to move forward.

In economic readings ahead of the latest session, the Commerce Department said the US trade deficit contracted by 19.2% in April, the sharpest drop in more than six years. The West Coast port strike, which was resolved in February, caused big swings in the trade gap the first several months of the year. In March, the deficit increased to its highest level in more than six years.

Separately, an employment report showed private payrolls in the US increased at a modest clip in May, but at a pace that was below expectations.

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First Published: Jun 04 2015 | 1:08 PM IST

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