Key benchmark indices edged lower on the first trading session of the week as stocks fell across the world on geopolitical worries over Ukraine and as a measure of Chinese manufacturing slipped. Gains in crude oil prices also weighed on the sentiment on the domestic bourses. India imports two-thirds of its oil requirements. Increase in oil prices raised fears of increase in current account deficit and increase in the government's fiscal deficit. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell below the psychological 21,000 mark. The Sensex and the 50-unit CNX Nifty, both, reached their lowest closing level in almost a week. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market was negative. The Sensex lost 173.47 points or 0.82%, off 193.35 points from the day's high and up 25.67 points from the day's low.
Indian stocks snapped five-day winning streak today, 3 March 2014. The Sensex had gained 583.48 points or 2.84% in five trading days to 21,120.12 on Friday, 28 February 2014, from a recent low of 20,536.64 on 20 February 2014. The Sensex had risen 606.27 points or 2.95% in February 2014. The Sensex has declined 224.03 points or 1.05% so far in calendar 2014 (till 3 March 2014). From a record high of 21,483.74 on 9 December 2013, the Sensex has declined 537.09 points or 2.5%. From a 52-week low of 17,448.71 on 28 August 2013, the Sensex has risen 3,497.94 points or 20.04%.
Coming back to today's trade, Cairn India rose along with crude oil prices. Shares of public sector oil marketing companies (PSU OMCs) rose after hiking petrol, diesel and jet fuel prices. Aviation stocks declined after PSU OMCs hiked the price of jet fuel or aviation turbine fuel by 1% effective 1 March 2014.
The market edged lower in early trade on weak Asian stocks. Key benchmark indices reversed initial losses in morning trade. Key benchmark indices alternately swung between positive and negative zone near the flat line in mid-morning trade. Key benchmark indices moved into negative zone from positive zone in early afternoon trade. Key benchmark indices extended losses and hit fresh intraday low in mid-afternoon trade. The Sensex fell below the psychological 21,000 mark. Weakness continued on the bourses in late trade.
Asian and European stocks edged lower on Monday, 3 March 2014, amid escalating geopolitical tension over Ukraine and after an official gauge of Chinese manufacturing dropped to an eight-month low. The crisis in Ukraine has deteriorated as Russian President Vladimir Putin won parliamentary backing to send troops into its southern neighbor. Crimea, where Russian speakers comprise the majority, has become the focal point of Ukraine's crisis after an uprising that triggered last month's overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych. Ukraine has put its forces on combat readiness and US President Barack Obama warned Russia not to intervene. Russian forces reportedly are now in complete control of the Crimean peninsula and the diplomatic situation is deteriorating with US and European allies vowing to isolate Russia and punish it for its actions.
The US, the UK and Canada are suspending preparations for a meeting of the Group of Eight industrial nations in Russia in June. Russia may lose its membership of the G-8, while the US is considering imposing sanctions, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday, 2 March 2014.
More From This Section
Russia's central bank unexpectedly raised its policy interest rate sharply to 7% from 5.5% previously, effective Monday morning. The Bank of Russia's move came as the Russian ruble plunged to record low against the dollar as well as euro following Moscow's intervention in Ukraine. "The decision is meant to avoid emerging risks to inflation and financial stability associated with the recently seen increased volatility on the financial markets," the central bank said in a statement. The central bank described the move as "temporary".
Crude oil prices rose amid escalating geopolitical tension between Ukraine and Russia, the world's largest energy exporter. Brent crude oil futures for delivery in April 2014 were up $2.11 a barrel or 1.93% at $111.18 a barrel.
The S&P BSE Sensex lost 173.47 points or 0.82% to settle at 20,946.65, its lowest closing level since 25 February 2014. The index dropped 199.14 points at the day's low of 20,920.98 at the fag end of the trading session. The index rose 19.88 points at the day's high of 21,140 in morning trade.
The CNX Nifty lost 55.50 points or 0.88% to settle at 6,221.45, its lowest closing level since 25 February 2014. The index hit a low of 6,212.25 in intraday trade. The index hit a high of 6,277.75 in intraday trade.
The BSE Mid-Cap index was off 19.68 points or 0.3% to settle at 6,480.74. The BSE Small-Cap index garnered 4.12 points or 0.06% to settle at 6,449.16. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market was negative. On BSE, 1,480 shares dropped and 1,204 shares rose. A total of 120 shares were unchanged.
The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 3860 crore, higher than Rs 2658.15 crore on Friday, 28 February 2014.
The S&P BSE Bankex (down 0.84%), the S&P BSE Teck index (down 1.02%), the S&P BSE Capital Goods index (down 1.04%), the S&P BSE Power index (down 1.18%), the S&P BSE Auto index (down 1.18%), the S&P BSE IT index (down 1.25%), the S&P BSE Healthcare index (down 1.55%) underperformed the Sensex.
The S&P BSE Consumer Durables index (up 1.74%), the S&P BSE Oil & Gas index (up 0.24%), the S&P BSE Realty index (down 0.02%), the S&P BSE Metal index (down 0.15%), the S&P BSE FMCG index (down 0.3%) outperformed the Sensex.
Index heavyweight and cigarette major ITC rose 0.35% to Rs 328.65. The stock hit high of Rs 330.75 and low of Rs 318.
Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) rose 0.6% to Rs 804.05. The stock was volatile. The scrip hit high of Rs 806 and low of Rs 798. The company after market hours on Friday, 28 February 2014, said that a section of the press has regurgitated the false and defamatory allegations made against the company on Thursday, 27 February 2014. This has inflicted unacceptable controversy and disrepute upon RIL across million of stakeholders in the world, RIL said in a statement.
Mechanical replay of allegation and insinuation via youtube and/or e-papers has a global imprint, the company said in a statement. Carrying such defamatory content, with or without carrying a few lines of RIL's version, is unacceptable, RIL said.
RIL said that the investments made by Biometrix in Indian companies were from loans raised from Singapore Branch of ICICI Bank. The disbursement notices issued by Singapore Branch of ICICI Bank to Biometrix cover disbursement of the entire amount invested by Biometrix in Indian entities, RIL said.
RIL said that false and baseless allegations made by Mr. Prashant Bhushan against the company have been made by vested interests in the proceedings filed in November 2012 in the Delhi High Court. These allegations have been appropriately responded to and the disbursement notices of ICICI Bank have been placed on record, RIL said in a statement. RIL further said that investments made by Biometrix into Indian entities have been scrutinized and investigated by regulatory authorities. RIL said that the company has fully co-operated in the investigation and the regulatory authorities have been apprised of the true and correct facts.
Reporting Mr. Bhushan's selective leaks of old information already residing in judicial proceedings is misleading global public at large and defaming and maligning RIL's corporate reputation, the company said in a statement.
RIL said that sections of the media are requested to recognize the global implication of their output and not fall for Mr. Bhushan's machinations which are purely for his collateral and political gains.
RIL had on Thursday, 27 February 2014, said that allegations that foreign direct investments in certain Indian companies by Biometrix, a Singapore-based company, are "laundered monies" invested in India are completely false.
ONGC dropped 0.65%. ONGC Videsh (OVL) on Friday, 28 February 2014, said it has completed the acquisition of 10% participating interest (PI) in the Rovuma Area 1 offshore Block from Anadarko Mombique Area 1 Limitada (Anadarko). On the 24 August 2013, OVL had signed definitive agreements with Anadarko to acquire this interest.
Acquisition of an additional 10% Interest in Area 1 follows OVL's earlier announcement of a completion of a joint acquisition, with Oil India (OIL), of an indirect 10% interest in Area 1, from Videocon Mauritius Energy. BPRL Ventures Mozambique B.V. (BPRL), another Indian PSU already holds a 10% interest in Area 1.
Area 1 covers approximately 2.6 million acres in the deep-water Rovuma Basin, offshore Mozambique and represents the largest natural gas discoveries in offshore East Africa with estimated recoverable resources of 45 to 70 trillion cubic feet. The partners in Area 1 include Anadarko (operator of the project), ENH (the national oil company of Mozambique), Mitsui, BPRL, BREML and PTTEP.
The acquisition marks OVL's entry into this emerging world-class offshore natural gas basin with significant future upside potential, OVL said in a statement. Area 1 has the potential to become one of the world's largest LNG producing hubs and is strategically located to supply LNG to the growing Indian gas market, the company said.
OVL is a wholly owned subsidiary of ONGC.
Cairn India rose 1.02% as US crude oil futures surged amid escalating geopolitical tension between Ukraine and Russia. Higher crude oil prices will result in higher realizations from crude sales for oil exploration firms like Cairn India.
Shares of public sector oil marketing companies (PSU OMCs) rose after hiking petrol, diesel and jet fuel prices. HPCL (up 1.46%) and Indian Oil Corporation (up 0.77%) gained. BPCL was flat at Rs 377.65. PSU OMCs on Friday, 28 February 2014, hiked the price of petrol by 60 paise and diesel by 50 paise per litre effective Friday midnight amid rising crude oil prices and depreciation of rupee against the dollar. This price hike is exclusive of local taxes. PSU OMCs also hiked the price of jet fuel or aviation turbine fuel by 1% effective 1 March 2014.
Separately, the price of non-subsidized cooking gas (LPG), which customers buy after using up their quota of 12 subsidised cylinders, was cut by Rs 53.5 per cylinder, the second straight reduction in rates since February. The 14.2-kg cooking gas cylinder that consumers buy beyond their entitled 12 cylinders at subsidised rates, will now cost Rs 1,080.50, down from Rs 1,134, in Delhi.
The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has reviewed international prices of crude oil and petroleum products during the second fortnight of February 2014. The under-recovery on High Speed Diesel (HSD) applicable for first fortnight of March 2014 rose to Rs 8.37 per/litre. This was Rs 8.31 per litre during the second fortnight of February 2014. In case of PDS Kerosene, the under-recovery is Rs 36.34 per litre for March 2014. The under-recovery is Rs 605.80 per cylinder for domestic LPG cylinders for March 2014. While the under-recovery for diesel is calculated on fortnightly basis, the under-recovery for PDS Kerosene and LPG is calculated on monthly basis.
In January 2013, the government allowed PSU OMCs to raise diesel prices in small measures at regular intervals. The government has already freed pricing of petrol.
Aviation stocks declined after the PSU OMCs hiked the price of jet fuel or aviation turbine fuel by 1% effective 1 March 2014. SpiceJet (down 2.44%) and Jet Airways (India) (down 0.53%) edged lower.
Shares of Kingfisher Airlines rose 2.28%.
The aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price at Delhi was hiked by Rs 753.34 per kilolitre (kl) or 1% to Rs 74,825.54 per kl.
ATF constitutes over 40% of an airline's operating costs and the price hike will increase the fuel cost of the cash-strapped carriers.
The three fuel retailers - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), HPCL and BPCL revise jet fuel prices on the first of every month, based on the average international price in the preceding month.
GAIL (India) shed 0.24% to Rs 368.70, with the stock reversing direction after hitting 52-week high of Rs 372 in intraday trade.
Coal India rose 0.37% to Rs 244.90. The stock was volatile. It hit high of Rs 245.25 and low of Rs 240.80. The company announced during market hours today, 3 March 2014, that the company and its subsidiaries achieved 94% of targeted production at 42.56 million tonnes in February 2014. The coal off take at 40.48 million tonnes in February 2014 was also at 94% of the target, the state-run coal major said.
State-run Bhel lost 2.81%. Bhel has bagged a prestigious engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for setting up a power project involving three coal-fired supercritical thermal units of 660 megawatts (MW) each. The announcement was made on Sunday, 2 March 2014. Valued at around Rs 7900 crore, the EPC order for setting up NTPC's 1,980 MW North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Project (STPP) in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand State, has been won by Bhel against International Competitive Bidding (ICB).
Significantly, for the first time in India, supercritical sets operating on higher Supercritical Steam Parameters (593 deg C / 593 deg C at 260 ata), resulting in reduced consumption of coal, will be supplied for the project. The machines will also be equipped with Air Cooled Condensers in order to address the issue of water scarcity in the area.
The order reinforces Bhel's leadership status in the execution of supercritical thermal power projects involving supply of state-of-art equipment, suited to Indian coal and Indian conditions. With this contract, BHEL has now won orders for supply and installation of 32 Supercritical Boilers and 27 Turbines of 660 MW, 700 MW and 800 MW ratings.
Bhel's scope of work involves design, engineering, manufacture, supply, construction, erection, testing & commissioning for the EPC Package comprising 3 units of 660 MW supercritical sets. The key equipment for the contract will be manufactured at Bhel's Trichy, Haridwar, Bhopal, Ranipet, Hyderabad, Jhansi and Bangalore plants with the company's Power Sector - Eastern Region to be responsible for civil works and erection / commissioning of the equipment.
L&T shed 0.75%. The company said during market hours that the company's Transportation Infrastructure Business unit has bagged a prestigious international order worth Rs 1550 crore from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Sultanate of Oman, for the construction of a road between Bidbid-Sur Section (Second Phase, First Part). The project is scheduled to be completed in 38 months.
Power Grid Corporation of India fell 0.11%. The company today, 3 March 2014, said its board has approved two projects entailing total investment of Rs 575.29 crore.
Voltas rose 1.8% after the company said it has executed a JV pact with Dow Chemical Pacific (Singapore) Pte, for establishing a JV firm in India, to tap the growing water and waste water treatment market in the country. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 28 February 2014.
Voltas said that the proposed new joint venture (JV) company - Voltas Water Solutions will have equal capital contribution from Voltas and Dow Chemical Pacific (Singapore) Pte (Dow). The JV company will market and distribute standard packaged Water Treatment Systems and Waste Water Treatment Systems of capacity up to 20 metre cube/hour, to residential and commercial complexes and light industrial markets in the Indian subcontinent, Voltas said. The entity's operations would include designing, procuring, testing, marketing, selling and servicing of such standard water treatment systems and waste water treatment systems, it added.
Voltas said that the Water and Waste Water Treatment market targeted by the new company is largely catered to today, by unorganized players. The new JV will provide a branded and differentiated product line, with a focus on quality and service delivery, the company said in a statement.
Jaiprakash Power Ventures slumped 15.21% after the company said its board approved selling two operational hydro-power plants to a consortium led by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company. The company made the announcement on Saturday, 1 March 2014.
The board of directors of Jaiprakash Power Ventures at the meeting held on 1 March 2014 considered and accepted the recommendations of committee of directors as well as audit committee for divestment of the two of the company's operating plants namely, 300 megawatts (MW) hydro-electric plant and 1091 MW Karcham Wangtoo hydro-electric plant, subject to requisite statutory and regulatory approvals.
The divestment is proposed to be by way of hiving off of the aforesaid plants to two separate wholly-owned subsidiaries (under incorporation) through a scheme of arrangement to be sanctioned by the High Court/ Tribunal of competent jurisdiction with eventual transfer of ownership of the said subsidiaries to the purchasers, viz. consortium led by TAQA India Power Ventures (an indirectly owned and controlled subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC), INDO-INFRA INC. (a large Institutional Canadian Investor) and India Infrastructure Fund-II (acting through IDFC Alternatives).
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) declined 2.29% after the company reported weak auto sales for February. The company on Saturday, 1 March 2014, reported a 12% decline in its total auto sales at 42,166 units in February 2014 over February 2013. The sales of Passenger Vehicle segment (which includes UVs and Verito) fell 18% to 19,308 units in February 2014 over February 2013. Domestic sales dropped 11% to 39,338 units in February 2014 over February 2013. The four-wheeler commercial vehicle segment sales fell 3% to 14,701 units while three-wheeler sales declined 2% to 4,724 units in February 2014 over February 2013. Exports were down 17% to 2,828 units in February 2014 over February 2013.
Commenting on the monthly performance, Pravin Shah, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, M&M said, The Auto industry has received the much needed boost in terms of an excise duty reduction and this has resulted in higher enquiries over the last one week. The recently concluded Auto Expo has also been a success which will only help in generating demand. At Mahindra we are hopeful that these positive initiative would be the beginning of a gradual upswing for the auto industry, as we move into the next financial year.
Separately, M&M on Saturday, 1 March 2014, reported a 18% growth in total tractor sales at 17,592 units in February 2014 over February 2013. Domestic tractor sales rose 19% to 16,552 units in February 2014 over February 2013. Exports increased 13% to 1,040 units in February 2014 over February 2013.
Commenting on the monthly performance, Rajesh Jejurikar, Chief Executive, Tractor and Farm Mechanization, M&M said, We have achieved a cumulative domestic growth of 23% till February 2014. Tractor demand for FY 2014 till date has been robust due to a favorable monsoon and higher minimum support prices. The shortage of labour at farms has given a boost to mechanization resulting in higher demand for tractors.
Maruti Suzuki India slipped 0.21%. The company on Saturday, 1 March 2014, said its total sales declined 0.4% to 1.09 lakh units in February 2014 over February 2013. Domestic sales rose 1.8% to 99,758 units in February 2014 over February 2013. Exports dropped 19.5% to 9,346 units in February 2014 over February 2013.
Tata Motors fell 1.93% after the company reported poor sales in February month. The company reported a 35.56% decline in total vehicle sales to 39,951 units in February 2014 over February 2013. The company made the announcement on Saturday, 1 March 2014.
Ashok Leyland fell 0.96%. The company's total sales fell 21% to 7,915 units in February 2014 over February 2013. Total sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCV) fell 21% to 5,576 units in February 2014 over February 2013. Total sales of light commercial vehicles (LCV) fell 22% to 2,339 units in February 2014 over February 2013. The announcement was made after market hours today, 3 March 2014.
Hero MotoCorp (HMCL) fell 0.36%. HMCL after market hours reported yet another month of over five-lakh unit sales. Hero MotoCorp despatched 5.04 lakh units of two-wheelers in the month of February 2014, higher than 5.01 lakh units in February 2013.
Mr. Anil Dua, Sr. Vice President (Marketing & Sales), HMCL, said: "We have been consistently selling over five lakh units every month, and this is clearly indicative of the inherent market demand that exists for our products. There has been an excise duty cut in the month of February and we have passed on the benefit to our customers. We are hopeful that this price cut will give a fillip to the industry and further boost demand of our products. The recent Auto Expo where we showcased over a dozen new products and concepts also seems to have strengthened the market sentiment. We plan to create further excitement in the market with as many as four models -- the newer versions of Pleasure, Xtreme, Karizma and ZMR -- ready to roll out later this month".
In keeping with its stated objective of reaching 50 global markets by 2020, Hero MotoCorp launched its operations in Turkey in partnership with Asya Makina, a part of the diversified Soysal Group. The company has started its operations in this strategic market with as many as 50 outlets spread across the country.
At the recent Auto Expo -- the Motor Show in Delhi, Hero MotoCorp showcased over a dozen models including the concepts -- the 150cc diesel two-wheeler RNT, electric motorcycle SimplEcity, 'iON' and the 620cc Hastur. It also unveiled a bouquet of exciting new scooters -- 150cc 'ZIR' in two variants, 125cc 'DARE' and the 110cc scooter 'DASH'.
Bajaj Auto fell 1.5% after the company reported weak sales for February. The company said during market hours that its total sales declined 6% to 3.13 lakh units in February 2014 over February 2013. Motorcycles sales dropped 6% to 2.73 lakh units in February 2014 over February 2013. Commercial vehicles sales dropped 3% to 39,971 units in February 2014 over February 2013. Exports rose 5% to 1.42 lakh units in February 2014 over February 2013.
TVS Motor Company rose 2.27% to Rs 87.85 after hitting a 52-week high of Rs 89.90 in intraday trade. The company said its total sales rose 7% to 1.77 lakh units in February 2014 over February 2013. The stock hit 52-week high of Rs 89.90 in intraday trade. The company announced the sales numbers on Saturday, 1 March 2014.
TVS Motor Company (TVS)'s total exports surged 31% to 28,782 units in February 2014 over February 2013. Two wheeler exports registered a growth of 26% to 22,713 units in February 2014 over February 2013.
Total two wheeler sales rose 6% to 1.70 lakh units in February 2014 over February 2013. Domestic two wheeler sales increased 3% to 1.47 lakh units in February 2014 over February 2013.
Scooters sales grew by 37% to 41,990 units in February 2014 over February 2013. Motorcycles sales grew by 3% to 62,762 units in February 2014 over February 2013.
Three wheeler sales jumped 53% to 7,369 units in February 2014 over February 2013.
Motherson Sumi Systems rose 3.66% to Rs 240.80 after hitting record high of Rs 249.50 in intraday trade.
Atul Auto was locked at 5% upper circuit at Rs 296.60 after the company said its total vehicle sales rose 18.97% to 3,105 units in February 2014 over February 2013. The company announced the sales numbers on Saturday, 1 March 2014.
IT stocks dropped. Infosys fell 1.05% to Rs 3,780.10, with the stock reversing direction after hitting record high of Rs 3,847.20 in intraday trade.
TCS (down 1.66%), Wipro (down 2.04%) and HCL Technologies (down 4.63%) dropped. Tech Mahindra rose 1.84%.
Pharma stocks declined. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (down 2.75%), Cipla (down 2.17%), Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (down 3.16%) and Ranbaxy Laboratories (down 1.16%) declined.
Lupin fell 1.55% to Rs 978.05, with the stock reversing direction after hitting record high of Rs 1,003 in intraday trade.
AstraZeneca Pharma India hit an upper circuit limit of 20% at Rs 1,110.90 on BSE after the company said its board will meet on 5 March 2014 to consider delisting proposal. AstraZeneca Pharma India (the company) said that its board received a letter from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals AB (AZP AB) Sweden, promoter of the company, proposing to delist the equity shares of the company from Indian stock exchanges (BSE, NSE and Bangalore Stock Exchange).
Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals AB holds 75% in AstraZeneca Pharma India.
In a separate announcement, the company said that AZP AB had entered into a subvention agreement with the company dated 7 May 2013, whereby it had decided to provide a voluntary non-repayable financial grant of approximately $22.5 million to $26.5 million over the three years between fiscal year ending March 2014 (FY14) - fiscal year ending March 2016 (FY16), of which the first tranche of $14 million was to be provided to the company in FY14.
The objective of this financial grant was to assist the company in its efforts to establish/grow its presence in the Indian market. In line with the subvention agreement, AZP AB has already provided $10.5 million to the company during the nine month period ended 31 December 2013. The subvention agreement provided for AZP AB to continuously monitor and review the business and financial performance of the company, thereby assessing the need for the continuation / modification of this voluntary financial grant, based on evolving business environment and conditions. AZP AB believes that the company's business and financial performance has been in line with more recent expectations, and that the company shall require approximately $3.5 million till end-FY14, and no further grant thereafter, the company added.
It has therefore been decided by AZP AB that the total amount of financial grant to be provided by AZP AB to the company shall stand revised to $14 million (as against the $22.5 million originally envisaged and approved as part of the financial assistance package), which shall continue till end-FY14, post which the payments under the subvention agreement shall cease, the company said.
Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) fell 0.78%. The company after market hours on Friday, 28 February 2014, said it has raised external commercial borrowing (ECB) of $300 million from a consortium of 4 lenders viz. State Bank of India (SBI), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, and DBS Bank.
The ECB which is in the form of a syndicated loan facility, is a first by an Indian Housing Finance Company (HFC) under the low cost affordable housing scheme of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), HDFC said. RBI in December 2012, permitted to HFCs/NHB to raise ECBs for financing prospective owners of low cost affordable housing units, HDFC said in a statement.
HDFC said that the borrowing facility has a tenor of 5 years. HDFC has drawn-down the facility in February 2014 from the above consortium of lenders, it added. The rate of interest on the facility is linked to USD Libor plus a spread of 1.75%, the company said. HDFC has swapped the facility in Indian Rupees for the entire tenor of the loan. Roadshows shall be conducted by the lender banks in Taipei & Singapore in March 2014 to syndicate the facility and invite other international banks to participate in the facility, HDFC said in a statement.
Bank stocks edged lower. Among private sector banks, Yes Bank (down 0.8%), ICICI Bank (down 1.49%), Kotak Mahindra Bank (down 1.9%) and Axis Bank (down 0.94%) declined. HDFC Bank was unchanged at Rs 667.40.
Among PSU bank stocks, State Bank of India (down 1.02%), Canara Bank (down 1.5%), Union Bank of India (down 1.41%), Bank of India (down 0.93%), Bank of Baroda (down 1.47%) and Punjab National Bank (down 2.39%) declined.
Oriental Bank of Commerce rose 0.66% after the bank said it intends to raise Tier II capital to the extent of Rs 1000 crore through issue of Basel III compliant Tier II Bonds on private placement basis. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 28 February 2014.
Realty stocks edged lower. DLF (down 1.35%), HDIL (down 0.96%), Unitech (down 3.32%), Indiabulls Real Estate (down 0.21%), Godrej Properties (down 1.86%) declined. Sobha Developers jumped 9.21% to Rs 320.05
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged lower against the dollar on risk aversion in global markets triggered by escalating geopolitical tension over Ukraine and after an official gauge of Chinese manufacturing dropped to an eight-month low. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 62.045, compared with its close of 61.75/76 on Friday, 28 February 2014.
The Indian manufacturing economy showed signs of strengthening in February, with faster increases in output and new orders bolstering the PMI to reach a one-year peak. New export business also rose at a quicker clip, Markit Economics said. Up from 51.4 in the previous month to 52.5 in February, the headline HSBC India Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) signalled a solid and stronger improvement in business conditions across the country's goods-producing sector, Markit Economics said.
Production growth accelerated on the back of a stronger rise in incoming new work. The pace of output expansion was solid and the quickest in one year. New orders increased for the fourth month running and at the most pronounced rate since February 2013. Survey respondents commented on higher demand from both domestic and export clients. Indeed new work from abroad rose in the latest month, with the growth rate climbing to the highest since June last year, Markit Economics said in a statement today, 3 March 2014.
Consumer goods was again the best performing sub-sector of the manufacturing economy in February, leading the rises in both output and new orders. Operating conditions also improved at intermediate goods producers, but were unchanged in the capital goods category.
Reflective of higher production requirements, Indian manufacturers raised their buying activity further in February. Although moderate, the overall expansion in quantity of purchases accelerated to the quickest since April last year. Nonetheless, pre-production stocks fell in the latest month as raw material shortages at vendors' units resulted in longer supplier delivery times.
February data also indicated that manufacturing employment increased, stretching the current period of job creation to five months. That said, payroll numbers rose at a fractional pace that was the weakest in that sequence, Markit Economics said.
Indian manufacturers signalled higher levels of unfinished work in February, as has been the case since August 2012. Capacity constraints were linked by panellists to strong new order growth and, to a lesser extent, shortages of raw materials.
Input cost inflation quickened to its highest in four months during February. Anecdotal evidence pointed to increased metals, chemicals, textiles and energy costs, Markit Economics said. All three monitored market sectors recorded sharp increases in purchase prices. Subsequently, average tariffs were raised further in February. However, survey participants indicated that competitive pressures persisted and limited their pricing power. The rate of charge inflation was, therefore, slight and the weakest in five months, Markit Economics said. Stocks of finished goods increased for the sixth consecutive month in February. Nevertheless, the pace of accumulation was slight and unchanged from that seen in January.
Commenting on the India Manufacturing PM survey, Leif Eskesen, Chief Economist for India & ASEAN at HSBC said: "Manufacturing activity picked up further in February. New order flows have firmed, with the improvement in external demand and the reduction in macroeconomic uncertainty since last summer. This, in turn, has provided a lift to output growth. However, the recovery in activity is still likely to prove protracted given the lingering structural constraints. Moreover, underlying inflation pressures remain potent, which was evident from the jump in the input price component of the PMI survey. This will keep RBI hawkish and likely compel it to raise rates a bit further this year".
As per the data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation after market hours on Friday, 28 February 2014, the Quarterly GDP at factor cost at constant (2004-05) prices for Q3 of 2013-14 is estimated at Rs 14.8 lakh crore, as against Rs 14.1 lakh crore in Q3 of 2012-13, showing a growth rate of 4.7% over the corresponding quarter of previous year. As per the revision policy, quarterly estimates and growth rates of 2011-12 and 2012-13 have undergone revision on account of revision in annual estimates of 2011-12 and 2012-13. However, the growth rates of Q1 and Q2 estimates of 2013-14 have not been revised and would undergo revision only at the time of the release of fourth quarter estimates and Provisional estimates for the year 2013-14 to be released on 31 May 2014. Therefore, Q1 and Q2 GDP estimates given in this release are based on Provisional estimates of 2012-13 released in May 2013, while the Q3 estimates are based on the First Revised estimates of 2013-14 released in January 2014.
The core sector registered a growth of 1.6% in January 2014, data released by the government after trading hours on Friday, 28 February 2014, showed. The eight core industries have a combined weight of 37.90% in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
Arun Jaitley, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upper house of parliament, said in a TV interview on Sunday, 2 March 2014, that the BJP will consider raising the cap on foreign investment in the insurance sector from the current level of 26% if the party comes to power after elections due by May. He said that the BJP had discussed with Congress leaders ways to break the deadlock over the insurance legislation. "We have worked out various alternatives. Unfortunately, this has (been) too close to the elections," Jaitley said. Jaitley said his party would be looking at the measure as a way to revive investment in an economy that grew just 4.7% last year. The ruling Congress government has repeatedly sought parliament's approval to raise the limit to 49%.
Jaitley, however, said that the BJP continues to oppose foreign direct investment in the retail sector.
European stocks edged lower on Monday, 3 March 2014, amid increasing geopolitical tension over Ukraine, and as a measure of Chinese manufacturing slipped. Key benchmark indices in France, Germany and UK were off 1.42% to 2.5%.
Asian stocks edged lower on Monday, 3 March 2014, amid escalating geopolitical tension over Ukraine and after an official gauge of Chinese manufacturing dropped to an eight-month low. Key benchmark indices in Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan and South Korea were off 0.44% to 1.47%.
China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.92%. China's Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 50.2 in February compared with January's 50.5 reading, the lowest since June, the National Bureau of Statistics and China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing said March 1 in Beijing. HSBC China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index, a gauge of nationwide manufacturing activity, fell to a final reading of 48.5 in February from 49.5 in January, HSBC Holdings PLC said Monday.
A meeting of China's lawmakers to set economic policy and growth targets begins on Wednesday, 5 March 2014. The latest meeting of the legislature, the first to be overseen by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, comes as leaders pledge to give markets a "decisive" role in the economy. Investors will be watching the National People's Congress (NPC) meeting for clues to the next steps to fix local-government finances, charge market prices for natural resources, rein in shadow-banking risks, free up deposit rates and open up state businesses to private investment.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could drop 124 points at the opening bell on Monday, 3 March 2014. Most US stocks rose on Friday as some positive economic data boosted the S&P 500 to record levels for a second straight day. The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index rose to 59.8 in February, topping expectations, while the final February reading on consumer sentiment from the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers also rose more than expected.
Other reports released on Friday suggested an economy that struggles to gain traction. GDP was estimated to have grown at an annual rate of 2.4% in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department said. That was below estimates and down sharply both from its estimate last month of 3.2% and the 4.1% rate in the third quarter. Separately, pending home sales rose 0.1% in January, far below expectations for growth of 2%.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) next undertakes monetary policy review on 18-19 March 2014. After a monetary policy review, the FOMC on 29 January 2014 announced it will reduce monthly bond purchases by another $10 billion to $65 billion.
Powered by Capital Market - Live News