Key benchmark indices slumped as world stocks dropped after the Federal Reserve signaled that it may reduce the amount of monetary stimulus it provides as early as this year. Concerns about the health of the Chinese economy also weighed on sentiment in global markets after a survey showed further slowdown in China's manufacturing sector this month. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell below the psychological 19,000 level. The Sensex and the 50-unit CNX Nifty settled at their lowest level in more than 9 weeks. The Sensex lost 526.41 points or 2.74%, off 349.91 points from the day's high and up 32.10 points from the day's low. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. All the 13 sectoral indices on BSE were in the red.
The Sensex has lost 1,041.01 points or 5.27% in this month so far (till 20 June 2013). The Sensex has fallen 707.42 points or 3.64% in calendar 2013 so far (till 20 June 2013). From a 52-week high of 20,443.62 on 20 May 2013, the Sensex has fallen 1,724.33 points or 8.43%. From a 52-week low of 16,598.48 on 26 July 2012, the Sensex has surged 2,120.81 points or 12.78%.
Coming back to today's trade, index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) declined. Another index heavyweight and cigarette maker ITC also fell. Metal stocks slumped after a survey showed further slowdown in China's manufacturing sector in June 2013. Realty stocks declined, with realty major DLF hitting 52-week low. Bank stocks dropped as the yields on government bonds surged.
Capital goods stocks edged lower on worries the ongoing slowdown in the economy could restrict new orders. Bhel hit 52-week low. NTPC dropped on reports that the state-run power equipment major scrapped its bond sale after a sell-off in government bonds caused worries about the pricing of its debt. Neyveli Lignite Corporation hit a 52-week low on reports the Cabinet will today, 20 June 2013, take up the proposal to sell government's 5% stake in the state-run firm through the offer for sale (OFS) route. Shares of state-run gas transmission and distribution major GAIL (India) hit 52-week low. Shares of power finance companies declined.
FMCG stocks declined. Telecom stocks declined on profit booking after recent gains triggered by reports that a government panel has recommended a major liberalisation of the foreign direct investment (FDI) regime, including raising the FDI limit to 100% from 74% in telecom. Bharti Infratel dropped to a record low as the stock turned ex-dividend today, 20 June 2013.
Data showing that foreign funds remained net sellers of Indian stocks on Wednesday, 19 June 2013, affected market investor sentiment adversely. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 458.90 crore from the secondary equity markets on Wednesday, 19 June 2013, as per data from Securities & Exchange Board of India.
A setback was witnessed across the financial markets as the rupee hit record low against the dollar and yields on government bonds surged. The rupee was currently trading at 59.58, compared with Wednesday's close of 58.71/72.
More From This Section
The yields on government bonds rose sharply after trading resumed after a halt triggered by a breach in an indicative daily band. The daily cap on yield fluctuations was lifted for today by the Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association of India, which sets the limit. The yield on the most traded paper -- 8.33% GS 2026 -- was up more than 16 basis points at 7.6105 per cent from Wednesday's close of 7.4458 per cent.
The S&P BSE Sensex lost 526.41 points or 2.74% to 18,719.29, its lowest closing level since 15 April 2013. The index tumbled 558.51 points at the day's low of 18,687.19 in late trade. The index fell 176.50 points at the day's high of 19,069.20 in opening trade.
The CNX Nifty was down 166.35 points or 2.86% to 5,655.90, its lowest closing level since 15 April 2013. The index hit a low of 5,645.65 in intraday trade. The index hit a high of 5,755 in intraday trade.
The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 1765 crore, higher than Rs 1657.56 crore on Wednesday, 19 June 2013.
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. On BSE, 1,666 shares fell and 639 shares rose. A total of 107 shares were unchanged.
The BSE Mid-Cap index fell 1.93% and the BSE Small-Cap index declined 1.72%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
The BSE Healthcare index (down 0.67%), BSE FMCG index (down 1.66%), BSE Auto index (down 1.77%), BSE IT index (down 2.14%), BSE Teck (down 2.3%) and BSE Consumer Durables index (down 2.46%) outperformed the Sensex.
BSE PSU index (down 2.76%), BSE Capital Goods index (down 2.94%), BSE Oil & Gas index (down 3.06%), BSE Power index (down 3.29%), BSE Bankex (down 3.98%), BSE Metal index (down 4.63%) and BSE Realty index (down 5.18%) underperformed the Sensex.
Among the 30-share Sensex pack, 28 stocks fell and only two of them rose. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries rose 0.72% on defensive buying.
Wipro rose 0.73% on reports the company has won a large technology outsourcing contract, potentially valued at close to $500 million (Rs 2900 crore) from Citigroup. The company will provide application development and maintenance, and infrastructure services for Citi's global operations. The five-year engagement requires Wipro to set up an offshore delivery centre in Bangalore, reports added.
Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) dropped 3.68% to Rs 800.55. The stock hit a high of Rs 821 and low of Rs 794.80.
GAIL (India) was off 1.55% at Rs 292.45. The stock hit 52-week low of Rs 290.70 in intraday trade today, 20 June 2013.
Petronet LNG declined 3.36% as the stock turned ex-dividend today, 20 June 2013, for dividend of Rs 2.50 per share for the year ended 31 March 2013.
Index heavyweight and cigarette maker ITC lost 1.85% to Rs 324.
FMCG stocks dropped. Colgate-Palmolive (India) (down 1.93%), Dabur India (down 2.46%), Godrej Consumer Products (down 2.49%), Marico (down 3.5%), Nestle India (down 0.69%) and Tata Global Beverages (down 2.13%) declined.
Shares of GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Healthcare slumped 7.56%. The company makes malted food drinks under the Horlicks brand.
Hindustan Unilever shed 0.27% to Rs 593.15. The Anglo-Dutch consumer goods major Unilever's open offer to raise its stake in Indian unit will open tomorrow, 21 June 2013. Unilever will buyback shares from minority shareholders at Rs 600 per share to hike its stake in Hindustan Unilever from 52.48% to up to 75%. The open offer closes on 4 July 2013.
Capital goods stocks edged lower on worries the ongoing slowdown in the economy could restrict new orders. L&T (down 3.09%), ABB (down 4.59%) and Siemens (down 2.95%), edged lower.
Bhel fell 4.94% to Rs 171.40. The stock hit 52-week low of Rs 170.65 in intraday today, 20 June 2013.
NTPC dropped 3.35% on reports that the state-run power equipment major scrapped its bond sale after a sell-off in government bonds caused worries about the pricing of its debt. NTPC was reportedly planning to raise up to Rs 1000 crore through an issue of dual tranche bonds on Thursday, 20 June 2013.
MMTC fell by maximum permissible limit of 5% at Rs 139.70, which is also its 52-week low, with the stock extending recent steep slide triggered by government concluding the divestment of 9.33% stake at a huge discount to the stock's ruling market price last week. The government last week sold 9.33% stake in MMTC via Offer for Sale through stock exchanges mechanism at an indicative price of Rs 60.86 per share. The divestment was done to make the company compliant to the public shareholding requirements under the Securities Contract Regulations (Rules) (SCRR). Sebi has mandated minimum public shareholding of 10% for state-run firms by August 2013.
Neyveli Lignite Corporation lost 3.85% to Rs 57.45 after hitting a 52-week low of Rs 57.10 in intraday trade today, 20 June 2013. As per reports, the Cabinet will today, 20 June 2013, take up a proposal to sell government's 5% stake through the offer for sale (OFS) in Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC). The Government of India (GoI) holds 93.56% stake in NLC (as per the shareholding pattern as on 31 March 2013).
Shares of power finance companies declined. Power Finance Corporation (down 5.93%) and Rural Electrification Corporation (down 4.9%), edged lower.
Bank stocks dropped as the yields on government bonds surged. Lower bond prices will result in diminution in value of bond holdings by banks. Bond yields and bond prices are inversely related. HDFC Bank (down 4.37%), ICICI Bank (down 3.82%) and State Bank of India (down 2.24%) edged lower.
Bank of India fell 7.55% as the stock turned ex-dividend today, 20 June 2013, for dividend of Rs 10 per share for the year ended 31 March 2013.
Dena Bank tumbled 9.43% as the stock turned ex-dividend today, 20 June 2013, for dividend of Rs 4.70 per share for the year ended 31 March 2013.
Union Bank of India dropped 7.94% as the stock turned ex-dividend today, 20 June 2013, for dividend of Rs 8 per share for the year ended 31 March 2013.
Tourism Finance Corporation of India spurted 11.91% after the company said its board approved submitting an application for securing a bank licence from the Reserve Bank of India. The company made the announcement after market hours on Wednesday, 19 June 2013. Applicants seeking new banking licences are required to submit their applications to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by 1 July 2013.
Metal stocks tumbled after a survey showed further slowdown in China's manufacturing sector in June 2013. Sterlite Industries (India) (down 4.69%), Hindalco Industries (down 6.29%), Tata Steel (down 6.68%), and Jindal Steel & Power (down 10.52%), edged lower. China is the world's largest consumer of copper and aluminum.
Realty stocks declined. HDIL (down 5.84%), Unitech (down 5.39%), and D B Realty (down 5.23%), edged lower.
DLF fell 7.22% to Rs 175.40. The stock hit 52-week low of Rs 173.50 in intraday trade today, 20 June 2013.
Auto stocks declined. M&M (down 4.05%), Maruti Suzuki India (down 1.21%), Tata Motors (down 1.8%), Hero MotoCorp (down 1.4%) and Bajaj Auto (down 1.1%), edged lower.
Apollo Tyres rose 0.25% to Rs 61.05, with the stock reversing direction after hitting 52-week low of Rs 59.45 in intraday trade today, 20 June 2013. Shares of Apollo Tyres had dropped 33.8% in five trading days to Rs 60.90 on 19 June 2013 from a recent high of Rs 92 on 12 June 2013 on concerns about the impact of a large US acquisition on the company's balance sheet.
Apollo Tyres after trading hours on 12 June 2013 said that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which a wholly-owned step subsidiary of the company will acquire Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (Cooper), a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.5 billion. This strategic combination will bring together two companies with highly complementary brands, geographic presence and technological expertise to create a global leader in tire manufacturing and distribution, Apollo Tyres said in a statement.
Telecom stocks declined on profit booking after recent gains triggered by reports that a government panel has recommended a major liberalisation of the foreign direct investment (FDI) regime, including raising the FDI limit to 100% from 74% in telecom.
Reliance Communications (RCom) fell 1.86% to Rs 124.30 on profit booking after a recent upmove. Shares of RCom had gained 20.05% in four trading days to Rs 126.65 on 19 June 2013 from the recent low of Rs 105.50 on 13 June 2013.
Idea Cellular slipped 3.52% to Rs 142.70. MTNL shed 3.94%.
Bharti Airtel lost 3.24%. The company on 17 June 2013 said that it has completed the allotment of 19.98 crore new shares, representing 5% equity stake in the company, to Qatar Foundation Endowment. The shares have been issued at a price of Rs 340 each on a preferential basis for a total consideration of Rs 6796 crore. The allotment marks one of the largest private equity transactions in the history of India, Bharti said. On 3 May 2013, Bharti and Qatar Foundation Endowment had announced a binding agreement for the share sale. As part of the entitlement, QFE is entitled to one seat on the board of Bharti.
Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) hit maximum permissible upper limit of 10% at Rs 7.30. The stock extended Thursday's 10% surge after the company during market hours on Thursday, 19 June 2013, said that its board of directors has proposed issue of bonus shares with the promoter/promoter group forgoing their entitlement to the bonus shares in order to comply with the minimum public shareholding requirement. Promoters currently hold 77.21% stake in Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) (as per the shareholding pattern as on 3 June 2013).
Bharti Infratel declined 5.67% to Rs 145.50 as the stock turned ex-dividend today, 20 June 2013, for final dividend of Rs 3 per share for the year ended 31 March 2013. The stock hit a record low of Rs 140.95 in intraday trade today, 20 June 2013.
Ranbaxy Laboratories lost 3.4%. The company during market hours today, 20 June 2013, said that it is disappointed with the decision by the European Commission to rule its patent settlement agreement with Lundbeck, covering the molecule Citalopram, anti competitive. Ranbaxy said it intends to file an appeal against the decision in the general court of the European Union. These events took place over ten years ago, and the company considers that the Commission has misunderstood the facts and misapplied the law. It believes it has strong grounds of appeal. Ranbaxy said it is committed to conducting its business in compliance with the European law and is dedicated to offering high quality, affordable medicines for the benefit of patients, prescribers, customers and the European healthcare system.
European antitrust regulators had imposed a fine of a total of 146 million euros on nine drugmakers, including Denmark's Lundbeck and Ranbaxy, for blocking the supply of a cheaper anti-depressant to the market, the first EU sanction against such deals.
Sintex Industries fell 7.59% after the National Stock Exchange said it will exclude the stock from the futures and options segment. NSE said futures and options (F&O) contracts for new expiry months in Sintex Industries will not be issued on expiry of existing contract months. However, the existing unexpired contracts of expiry months June 2013, July 2013 and August 2013 will continue to be available for trading till their respective expiry and new strikes will also be introduced in the existing contract months. Accordingly, no contracts shall be available for trading in Sintex Industries with effect from 30 August 2013.
European stock markets dropped on Thursday, 20 June 2013, after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said late the prior day the central bank may scale back its bond purchases this year, depending on the economic outlook. Key benchmark indices in UK, France and Germany were down by 2.32% to 2.47%.
UK retail sales rose more than economists forecast in May as consumers spent more online and food sales increased at their fastest pace for more than two years. Sales including auto fuel jumped 2.1% from April, when they fell 1.1%, the Office for National Statistics said today in London.
Asian stocks slumped on Thursday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank may reduce bond purchases later this year should the US economy strengthen. Key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea fell by 1.35% to 3.68%.
Activity in China's vast manufacturing sector weakened further in June to a 9-month low as new orders faltered, a preliminary survey of purchasing managers showed on Thursday, reinforcing signs of tepid economic growth in the second quarter. The flash HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 48.3 in June from May's final reading of 49.2, drifting further away from the 50-point level demarcating expansion from contraction. It was the weakest level since September 2012.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could fall 130 points at the opening bell on Thursday, 20 June 2013. US stocks fell sharply on Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank may scale back its bond purchases this year, depending on the economic outlook.
Bernanke said yesterday the central bank may start dialing down its unprecedented bond-buying program this year and end it entirely in mid-2014 if the economy finally achieves the sustainable growth the Fed has sought since the recession ended in 2009. In its announcement, the Federal Reserve after a two day policy meeting on Wednesday said it would continue to purchase $85 billion in bond purchases each month, but noted that the outlook for the economy and the labor market has improved since the fall. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) reiterated that it was ready to hike or cut the pace of its asset buys, depending on the labor market and inflation.
The Fed's asset purchases, known more popularly as quantitative easing (QE), are regarded as a key source of global liquidity that helps support an array of assets, including equities.
Powered by Capital Market - Live News