Indian stocks edged lower after a sudden slide in early afternoon trade as international crude oil prices rose following reports that Sunni militants have attacked Iraq's largest oil refinery. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market turned negative from positive. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 325.09 points or 1.27%, off 413 points from the day's high and up 82 points from the day's low.
PSU OMCs tumbled after international crude oil prices firmed up. Cipla edged higher in choppy trade after the company denied rumours that promoters are in talks with a multinational firm for selling their stake. Shares of companies operating in power sector tumbled sharply. TVS Motor Company jumped after a brokerage upgrade.
At 13:20 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 325.09 points or 1.27% to 25,196.10. The index slumped 406.89 points at the day's low of 25,114.30 in afternoon trade. The index gained 88.09 points at the day's high of 25,609.28 in mid-morning trade, its highest level since 13 June 2014.
The CNX Nifty was down 83.80 points or 1.10% to 7,547.90. The index hit a low of 7,515.50 in intraday trade. The index hit a high of 7,663 in intraday trade, its highest level since 13 June 2014.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market turned negative from positive in afternoon trade. On BSE, 1,706 shares fell and 1,119 shares rose. A total of 99 shares were unchanged.
The BSE Mid-Cap index was down 105.66 points or 1.16% at 8,995.81. The BSE Small-Cap index fell 104.16 points or 1.05% at 9,797.40. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
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Among the 30-share Sensex pack, 27 stocks declined and rest of them rose. Tata Steel (down 2.23%), Tata Motors (down 2.14%), TCS (down 2.12%), Sesa Sterlite (down 2.03%), ONGC (down 1.89%), Coal India (down 1.83%), Mahindra & Mahindra (down 1.74%), Larsen & Toubro (down 1.71%), ICICI Bank (down 1.69%) and HDFC Bank (down 1.68%) edged lower from the Sensex pack.
Dr Reddy's Laboratories (up 0.15%) and Hindalco Industries (up 0.06%), edged higher from the Sensex pack.
Shares of PSU OMCs dropped after international crude oil prices firmed up. BPCL (down 3.03%), HPCL (down 2.97%) and Indian Oil Corporation (down 2.73%), edged lower.
Higher crude oil prices could increase under-recoveries of PSU OMCs on domestic sale of diesel, LPG and kerosene at controlled prices. The government has already freed pricing of petrol.
Cipla edged higher in choppy trade after the company denied rumours that promoters are in talks with a multinational firm for selling their stake. The stock was up 3.6% at Rs 427.80. The stock hit high of Rs 443.20 and low of Rs 418.55 so far during the day. Cipla also said that the company has time and again denied such rumours in the past and continue to do so.
Shares of companies operating in power sector tumbled sharply. GMR Infrastructure (down 5.98%), Lanco Infratech (down 4.98%), NHPC (down 4.07%), Suzlon Energy (down 3.56%), JSW Energy (down 3.55%), Bharat Heavy Electricals (down 3.33%), Torrent Power (down 3.3%), Crompton Greaves (down 3.25%), Adani Power (down 3.23%), Reliance Infrastructure (down 3.08%), Reliance Power (down 2.81%), Tata Power (down 2.68%), NTPC (down 2.65%), Power Grid Corporation of India (down 1.27%), ABB (down 0.73%), Thermax (down 0.69%) and Siemens (down 0.07%), edged lower.
TVS Motor Company surged 6.14% to Rs 143.40 on reports a foreign brokerage upgraded the stock to buy from underperform with a target of Rs 200 per share, as it feels that the motorcycles maker is best positioned to grow in volume with its launches lined up this year which wil support better operating ratios and healthier balance sheet.
Volatility struck bourses in early trade as the key benchmark indices alternately moved between positive and negative zone. Key benchmark indices moved in a narrow range in positive zone in morning trade. Key benchmark indices trimmed gains after hitting fresh intraday high in mid-morning trade. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, briefly turned negative only to regain positive zone later. Key benchmark indices moved in a narrow range in positive zone in early afternoon trade. Indian stocks edged lower after a sudden slide in early afternoon trade as international crude oil prices rose following reports that Sunni militants have attacked Iraq's largest oil refinery.
Brent crude futures for August delivery were up 24 cents at $113.69 a barrel. The contract had risen 51 cents to settle at $113.45 yesterday, 17 June 2014, the highest close since 9 September 2013, on continuing militant violence in Iraq.
Increase in oil prices has triggered macroeconomic worries over India which imports majority of its crude oil requirements. Increase in crude oil prices have raised concerns of increase in fuel price inflation and increase in India's current account deficit and fiscal deficit.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged lower against the dollar as international crude oil prices rose following reports that Sunni militants have attacked Iraq's largest oil refinery. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 60.34, compared with its close of 60.03/04 on Tuesday, 17 June 2014.
In a bid to put a lid on increase in prices of essential food items of daily consumption, the government on Tuesday, 17 June 2014, unveiled some anti-inflationary measures. Keeping in mind the increasing trend in the price of onions, the government has imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of $300 per metric ton on the export of onions, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said in a statement. This is expected to have a salutary impact on the availability of onions in the domestic market, the government said. The Centre said that the Delhi state government will be asked to consider delisting fruits and vegetables from the purview of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act and would also be asked to procure additional supplies of onions for distribution through the government's own retail outlets.
Keeping in mind the increase in the retail price of rice, the Centre has decided to release more supplies of rice to state governments through the Food Corporation of India for Public Distribution System. The Centre also reviewed the steady increase in the retail price of milk and took a decision to consider withholding export incentives on milk currently in force.
European shares edged higher on Wednesday, 18 June 2014, as investors look ahead to the Federal Reserve's policy decision. Key benchmark indices in UK, France and Germany were up 0.04% to 0.31%.
Asian stocks were mostly lower on Wednesday, 18 June 2014, as investors await the Federal Reserve monetary policy decision scheduled to be released later in the global day today, 18 June 2014. Key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and South Korea were off 0.15% to 0.60%. Key benchmark indices in Singapore, Taiwan and Japan were up 0.08% to 0.93%.
Trading in US index futures indicated a flat opening for US stocks on Wednesday, 18 June 2014. US stocks ended Tuesday, 17 June 2014 slightly higher, with the main benchmarks gaining for the third consecutive day. However, gains were muted as headlines of violence in Iraq did not abate.
A two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on US monetary policy concludes today, 18 June 2014. The FOMC after a monetary policy review on 30 April 2014 reduced its monthly debt purchases to $45 billion, its fourth straight $10 billion cut, and said further reductions are likely in "measured steps" if the economy continues to improve. The Fed also said at that time that it will keep the benchmark interest-rate target at almost zero for a "considerable time" after its bond-buying program ends.
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