Key benchmark indices extended intraday losses and hit fresh intraday low in early afternoon trade as selling pressure intensified. At 12:18 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 144.60 points or 0.42% at 33,922.80. The Nifty 50 index was down 38.65 points or 0.38% at 10,212.20. The Sensex was trading below the 34,000 mark. Selling in oil sector stocks outweighed gains in IT stocks.
Among secondary barometers, the BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.78%. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.92%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On BSE, 1444 shares rose and 813 shares fell. A total of 129 shares were unchanged.
Oil sector stocks declined. Among public sector oil marketing companies, HPCL (down 1.13%) and Indian Oil Corporation (down 1.03%), edged lower.
BPCL lost 2.46% after net profit dropped 48.3% to Rs 1218.71 crore on 34.56% rise in total income to Rs 72829.83 crore in Q2 September 2018 over Q2 September 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 29 October 2018. BPCL's average gross refining margin (GRM) was $5.57 per barrel in Q2 September 2018, compared with $5.57 per barrel in Q2 September 2017.
Among oil exploration and production companies, ONGC (down 1%), Oil India (down 1.3%) and Reliance Industries (down 2.02%), edged lower.
Cement shares were in demand. Ambuja Cements (up 1.61%), UltraTech Cement (up 1.15%) and ACC (up 0.69%), edged higher.
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Grasim Industries was up 2.37%. Grasim has exposure to cement sector through its holding in UltraTech Cement.
HSIL lost 3.62% after net profit dropped 80.13% to Rs 4.67 crore on 17.22% growth in net sales to Rs 622.65 crore in Q2 September 2018 over Q2 September 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 29 October 2018.
On the economic front, India and Japan signed a bilateral currency swap agreement on Monday, 29 October 2018, for up to $75 billion during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tokyo. Under the arrangement, India can acquire dollars from Japan in exchange for rupees. The agreement would help bring greater stability to foreign exchange and capital markets in India. This arrangement would also further help India tap foreign capital for the country's development needs. This facility will enable the agreed amount of foreign capital being available to India for use as and when the need arises.
Overseas, most Asian shares were trading higher. US stocks closed lower Monday in a volatile session as concerns about global growth resurfaced following a news report that suggested that the US is about to intensify its trade war with China.
President Donald Trump's administration is prepared to announce tariffs on remaining Chinese imports if talks next month between Trump and Xi Jinping do not yield results, the media reported. Such a move is expected to hurt the global economy.
On the US data front, consumer spending rose 0.4% in September. Incomes rose a smaller 0.2%, the smallest rise in 13 months, while inflationary pressures appeared to slacken. The personal-consumption expenditures inflation index, the Federal Reserve's favorite price gauge, rose 0.1% in September, while the 12-month rate slipped to 2% from 2.2%.
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