Sensex surges in late trade

Key benchmark indices surged in late trade after witnessing a bout of volatility in mid-afternoon trade. Easing of inflation based on the wholesale price index to 8-month low of 5.05% in January 2014, strong response to the telecom spectrum auction which will help the government achieve its fiscal deficit target of 4.8% of gross domestic product for the year ending 31 March 2014 and data showing that foreign funds were net buyers of Indian stocks on Thursday, 13 February 2014, boosted sentiment as the 50-unit CNX Nifty regained the psychological 6,000 level after falling below that level in intraday trade. Gains in Asian and European stocks also underpinned sentiment on the domestic bourses. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was provisionally up 180.94 points or 0.9%, off close to 15 points from the day's high and up about 225 points from the day's low.

State Bank of India fell after weak Q3 results. M&M dropped in volatile trade after announcing Q3 results. Bharti Airtel rose after the company said it has acquired 115.0 MHz spectrum for a total consideration of Rs 18530 crore in the just concluded spectrum auction conducted by the Government of India. Idea Cellular gained after the company said that the winning of a total of 65.2 MHz of spectrum in the auction gives the company necessary impetus to expand the network in Delhi to 3G on 900 MHz and the launch 4G in 8 of its key revenue markets at an appropriate juncture. Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) rose after the company announced that its telecom unit Reliance Jio Infocomm has successfully acquired the right to use spectrum in 14 key circles across India on the 1800 MHz band in the recently concluded spectrum auction.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market was negative.

The market edged higher in early trade on firm Asian stocks. The Sensex regained positive terrain after slipping into the red to hit fresh intraday low in morning trade. The Sensex retained positive zone in early afternoon trade. Key benchmark indices trimmed gains in early afternoon trade after the latest data showed that core wholesale price inflation edged up in January 2014. Key benchmark indices slipped into the red from green in mid-afternoon trade. The Sensex soon regained positive zone. The barometer index extended gains in late trade.

The market sentiment was boosted by data showing that foreign funds were net buyers of Indian stocks on Thursday, 13 February 2014. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 399.40 crore on Thursday, 13 February 2014, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.

As per provisional figures, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 180.94 points or 0.9% to 20,374.29. The index jumped 198.60 points at the day's high of 20,391.95 in late trade. The index fell 44.34 points at the day's low of 20,149.01 in mid-afternoon trade, its lowest level since 6 February 2014.

The CNX Nifty was up 51.50 points or 0.86% to 6,052.60, as per provisional figures. The index hit a high of 6,056.40 in intraday trade. The index hit a low of 5,984.60 in intraday trade, its lowest level since 6 February 2014.

The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 6.02 points or 0.1% to 6,310.80. The BSE Small-Cap index was down 1.91 points or 0.03% at 6,280.58. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.

The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 1710 crore, higher than Rs 1667.49 crore on Thursday, 13 February 2014.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was negative. On BSE, 1,352 shares fell and 1,228 shares rose. A total of 149 shares were unchanged.

Tata Motors (up 3.47%), GAIL (India) (up 2.15%) and NTPC (up 1.77%), edged higher from the Sensex pack.

State Bank of India (SBI) fell 1.79% after net profit fell 34.2% to Rs 2234.34 crore on 14.91% increase in total income to Rs 39060.76 crore in Q3 December 2013 over Q3 December 2012. The result was announced during trading hours today, 14 February 2014.

SBI's ratio of net non-performing assets to net advances stood at 3.24% as on 31 December 2013, compared with 2.91% as on 30 September 2013 and 2.59% as on 31 December 2012.

The bank's ratio of gross non-performing assets (NPA) to gross advances stood at 5.73% as on 31 December 2013, compared with 5.64% as on 30 September 2013 and 5.30% as on 31 December 2012.

Provisions and contingencies rose 55.54% to Rs 4149.61 crore in Q3 December 2013 over Q3 December 2012. The provisioning coverage ratio as on 31 December 2013 stood at 58.32%.

The bank's Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) as per Basel III norms stood at 11.59% as on 31 December 2013, compared with 11.69% as on 30 September 2013.

In terms of RBI circular dated 23 August 2013 on Investment portfolio of banks -Classification, Valuation and Provisioning, the bank has option of distributing the net depreciation on the Available for Sale (AFS) and Held for Trading (HFT) portfolios on each of the valuation dates in the current financial year i.e. 2013-14 in equal installments. Accordingly, the bank has provided for a net depreciation as of 31 December 2013 to the extent of Rs 1267.92 crore. The un-provided depreciation as on 31 December 2013 is Rs 633.96 crore.

On a consolidated basis, SBI's net profit fell 38.93% to Rs 2838.62 crore on 15.11% increase in total income to Rs 58642.16 crore in Q3 December 2013 over Q3 December 2012.

M&M dropped in volatile trade after announcing Q3 results. The stock lost 0.46% to Rs 902.50. The stock hit high of Rs 914 and low of Rs 887.15. The combined net profit of M&M and Mahindra Vehicle Manufacturers -- a wholly owned subsidiary of M&M -- rose 9.3% to Rs 1000.10 crore on 2.18% fall in gross revenues plus other income to Rs 11270 crore in Q3 December 2013 over Q3 December 2012. Mahindra Vehicle Manufacturers (MVML), located at Chakan near Pune, was set up as a 100% subsidiary of the company with a view to sourcing contemporary products for expanding the market offerings of the company. The result was announced during market hours.

The combined operating margin of Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and its 100% subsidiary Mahindra Vehicle Manufacturers (MVML) edged up to 15% in Q3 December 2013, from 13.5% in Q3 December 2012.

M&M said that the deceleration in the gross revenue in the quarter is due to the challenging times the Indian auto industry is currently passing through with volumes shrinking by 11.7% in Q3 December 2013. Despite this, the entity could deliver a very healthy increase in operating margin and a growth in the profits in the quarter due to a strong sales performance by its Farm Equipment Sector and a tight control on material costs and all expenses, M&M said in a statement.

ONGC rose 0.59% after net profit rose 28.1% to Rs 7126 crore on 1.2% decline in sales revenue to Rs 20833 crore in Q3 December 2013 over Q3 December 2012. The Q3 result was announced after market hours on Thursday, 13 February 2014. The impact on ONGC's profit after tax (PAT) due to under-recovery discount rose 5.35% to Rs 7649 crore in Q3 December 2013 over Q3 December 2012.

Telecom stocks rose as the auction of spectrum in the 1800 MHz and 900 MHz band that began on 3 February 2014 ended on Thursday, 13 February 2014.

Reliance Communications rose 1.77%.

Idea Cellular gained 0.91% after the company said that the winning of a total of 65.2 MHz of spectrum in the auction gives the company necessary impetus to expand the network in Delhi to 3G on 900 MHz and the launch 4G in 8 of its key revenue markets at an appropriate juncture. The stock was up 1.79%. Idea Cellular made the announcement after market hours on Thursday, 13 February 2014.

In 8 of its leadership markets covering 64% of revenues, Idea now has the ability to launch 4G services in Kerala with 10 MHz, and in Maharashtra & Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, and North East, using 5 MHz of contiguous 1800 MHz spectrum won in each of these service areas, besides the right to deploy the 3G services with 5 MHz on the 900 MHz band in the strategically significant metro market of Delhi, Idea Cellular said in a statement.

With Delhi metro 900 MHz, the company now has the ability to extend its 3G services to 12 circles covering nearly 79% of its gross revenues, Idea Cellular said. The company has also acquired additional top up spectrum in 1800 MHz in Mumbai metro and Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh -- 2 MHz each, Maharashtra -- 4 MHz, Punjab -- 3 MHz, Gujarat -- 1.6 MHz, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana -- 1 MHz each, and Delhi -- 0.6 MHz, Idea Cellular said in a statement.

With this additional spectrum auction win, Idea's 6 strategic markets of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra & Goa, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Punjab, and Haryana, representing 53% of its revenues, will seamlessly experience all three Mobility technologies - GSM, 3G, and 4G services in the coming years, Idea Cellular said in a statement.

Idea Cellular said that the total accepted bid value is approximately Rs 10400 crore at Rs 160 crore/MHz, primarily for its 9 strategic service areas. This bid price will be covered within less than two years in EBITDA terms, based on the current EBITDA trends of these 9 strategic markets, the company said. After the initial payment of approximately Rs 3100 crore, the balance amount will be paid in ten equal installments after the first two year moratorium including interest at the rate of 10%, Idea Cellular said in a statement.

Bharti Airtel rose 0.89% after the company said it has acquired 115.0 MHz spectrum for a total consideration of Rs 18530 crore in the just concluded spectrum auction conducted by the Government of India. The company made the announcement after market hours on Thursday, 13 February 2014.

Bharti Airtel said it will make an upfront payment of Rs 5425 crore, with the balance to be paid in ten annual installments of Rs 1310 crore each, commencing two years from now, the company said.

Bharti Airtel said that the company's spectrum acquisition is in line with its strategy of building a robust network of the future and enhancing its leadership position in the fast growing data segment.

The company plans to roll-out high speed 4G networks in various circles using FD-LTE technology in the 1800 MHz band besides its existing TD-LTE roll-out in the 2300 MHz band, giving it a pan-India 4G footprint, Bharti Airtel said in a statement.

Bharti Airtel complimented DoT and TRAI on the successful outcome of the auction. It said that the auction has lent credence to the industry's position that reasonable reserve prices ensure successful auctions, while high reserve prices are counterproductive. It added that in most circles the auction in 1800 MHz showed a balanced approach between the revenue for the exchequer and industry viability due to ample spectrum being put up for auctions. However, the auction in 900 MHz band resulted in artificial and unrealistic prices on account of shortage of spectrum and the unenviable position of the incumbents who were forced to bid for this spectrum to protect the interest of their customers and the huge investments made by them, Bharti Airtel said in a statement.

Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) gained 1.56% after the company announced during market hours its telecom unit Reliance Jio Infocomm has successfully acquired the right to use spectrum in 14 key circles across India on the 1800 MHz band in the recently concluded spectrum auction conducted by DoT, Government of India. RJIL plans to use this spectrum, ranging from 2x5 MHZ to 2x7 MHZ in each of these 14 circles, in conjunction with its pan India 2300 MHz spectrum to address the expected surge in demand for digital services as well as to enhance in building coverage. RJIL plans to provide seamless 4G services using FDD-LTE on 1800 MHZ and TDD-LTE on 2300 MHz through an integrated ecosystem. RJIL has won the spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in all circles as per details given below, where it participated in the auction and where full contiguous block of 5 MHz spectrum was available: Through this acquisition, RJIL's total equivalent spectrum footprint has increased from 440 MHz to 597.6 MHz (inclusing uplink & downlink).

Mukesh D. Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited said: "With this acquisition, Reliance Jio will be the holder of the largest quantum of liberalized spectrum and with the longest residual spectrum life. Reliance Jio's seamless 4G services using FDD-LTE on 1800 MHz and TDD-LTE on 2300 MHz through an integrated ecosystem, aims to provide unparalleled high quality access to innovative and empowering digital content, applications and services".

Cost to RJIL for the right to use this technology agnostic spectrum for a period of 20 years is Rs 11054 crore. RJIL plans to opt to make an upfront payment of 33% with the balance payable in 10 equal annual instalments after a two year moratorium, as per the provisions of the Notice Inviting Applications issued by DoT.

RJIL has acquired the 1800 MHz spectrum at 31% premium to reserve price. Winning bidders of the 900 MHz spectrum paid between 55% to 110% premium over the reserve price.

RJIL is deploying an enhanced packet core network to create futuristic high capacity infrastructure to handle huge demand for data and voice. In addition to high speed data, the 4G network will provide voice services from / to non-RJIL networks. There are several mobile phones and devices available today which have the capability to operate both TD-LTE and FD-LTE technologies in the 1800 MHz and 2300 MHz bands as well as conventional 2G / 3G networks. Rapid strides in global LTE rollouts and introduction of several new chipsets is making LTE enabled smart mobile phones and devices more affordable. In any case, Wi-Fi enabled 2G / 3G device can access RJIL's services through an affordable pocket router, the company said.

United Spirits lost 0.45% after net profit declined 19.4% to Rs 64.92 crore on 5.22% growth in total income to Rs 2351.49 crore in Q3 December 2013 over Q3 December 2012. The Q3 result was announced after market hours on Thursday, 13 February 2014.

United Spirits said that Q3 December 2013 had seen a slowing of growth in the Prestige and Above segment to 12%, represented by an increase of a million cases over the comparable quarter. For the quarter, Prestige and Above volumes at 8.9 million cases out of an overall volume of 31.4 million cases represents a salience of the upper end at over 28% of the total - a manifestation of the increasing focus on moving the company's customers up the value chain, United Spirits said in a statement.

Delays in the start of the crushing season, as a result of a hardening of the individual positions of the sugar mills and the Government/sugar farmers, has led to a situation of no softening of prices of extra neutral alcohol (ENA), the company's key ingredient, United Spirits said.

Key brands of the company continue to perform well as a result of the company's increasing focus and healthy consumer acceptance, United Spirits said in a statement.

United Spirits said that the company's investments in improving its in-house distillation capability are yielding fruit and production of ENA at the facilities at Pioneer (Maharashtra), Sovereign (Karnataka) and Tern (Andhra Pradesh) are performing satisfactorily. Add-on investments have been made in equipment at these units to comply with the new operating standards for primary distillation units, the company said.

In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged higher against the dollar on global risk-on sentiment. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 62.14, compared with its close of 62.42/43 on Thursday, 13 February 2014.

The government has garnered about Rs 61162 crore from telecom spectrum auction that concluded on Thursday, 13 February 2014, after 10 days of fierce bidding. Revenue from the auctions surpassed the initial government estimate of about Rs 11000 crore. Earnings from the auction will help the government achieve its fiscal deficit target of 4.8% of gross domestic product for the year ending 31 March 2014 as part of the funds from the auction are due upfront.

Inflation based on the wholesale price index (WPI) stood at 5.05% (provisional) in January 2014 as compared to 6.16% (provisional) for December 2013 and 7.31% in January 2013. Build up inflation rate in the financial year so far was 5.17% compared to a build up rate of 5.78% in the corresponding period of the previous year. The government unveiled data on inflation based on the wholesale price index (WPI) for January 2014 at 12 noon today, 14 February 2014.

Core inflation or non-food manufacturing inflation edged up to 3.04% in January 2014, from 2.75% in December 2013, the latest data showed.

Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram today, 14 February 2014, said he hopes policymakers will try to bolster growth with wholesale price index inflation easing to an eight-month low in January. He was responding to queries on whether the Reserve Bank of India's April policy decision will be guided by the recent easing in inflation.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram will present the Vote-on-Account or interim budget for the first four months of 2014/15 on 17 February 2014. The objective of a Vote-on-Account is to get Parliament's nod for expenditure to be incurred in the months prior to elections.

The next full-fledged budget will be presented by the new government which comes to power after the Lok Sabha polls in April-May 2014.

The Reserve Bank of India next undertakes monetary policy review on 1 April 2014. Sighting elevated consumer price inflation, the Reserve Bank of India raised its key lending rates by 25 basis points after Third Quarter Review of Monetary Policy for 2013-14 on 28 January 2014.

European stocks edged higher on Friday, 14 February 2014, as the euro zone economic recovery picked up speed in the final quarter of 2013. Key benchmark indices in France, UK and Germany rose 0.15% to 0.72%.

Euro-zone gross domestic product increased 0.3% in the last three months of 2013, or 1.1% at an annualized rate, marking the third straight quarter of growth, the EU's statistics office said.

Asian stocks edged higher on Friday, 14 February 2014, as US stocks rose overnight. Key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Indonesia and Taiwan fell by 0.36% to 0.83%. Key benchmark indices in Japan and Singapore fell by 0.04% to 1.53%.

China's inflation stayed subdued in January while factory-gate prices extended the longest drop since the 1990s, in a sign of moderating demand in the world's second-largest economy. The consumer price index rose 2.5% from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said today in Beijing, the same pace as in December. The producer-price index fell 1.6%.

Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could gain 10 points at the opening bell on Friday, 14 February 2014. US stocks rose on Thursday as earnings and a $45.2 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable Inc. overshadowed an unexpected drop in retail sales.

Receipts at US retailers declined 0.4% in January amid bad weather and uneven progress in the labor market, a report yesterday showed, signaling the economy was off to a slow start this year. The decline was the biggest since June 2012. A Labor Department report showed the number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits rose by 8,000 to 339,000 in the week ended Feb. 8.

Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen's scheduled appearance before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, 13 February 2014, was postponed due to a snowstorm.

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. The Fed also signaled that it is likely to keep reducing bond purchases in the coming months, citing a pickup in US economic activity and improvement in the US labor market.

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