Firmness continued on the bourses in afternoon trade. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was currently up 100.83 points or 0.38% at 26,543.64. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. The market sentiment was boosted by provisional data showing that foreign funds were net buyers of Indian during the previous trading session. FMCG stocks gained. Shares of PSU OMCs and state-run upstream oil and gas stocks companied edged higher on hopes of announcement of reforms by the government on subsidies. Shares of companies with significant sales to Europe gained as expectations grew for further monetary stimulus measures from the European Central Bank (ECB).
Key indices have remained in green after a strong opening triggered by higher Asian stocks and a first closing for S&P 500 in the US above 2,000 overnight.
European shares edged lower amid initial volatility. Asian stocks rose after US data on durable goods and consumer confidence boosted optimism in the strength of the world's largest economy. Crude oil prices rose ahead of the weekly US oil inventory data from the US government.
At 13:13 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 100.83 points or 0.38% at 26,543.64. The index jumped 156.31 points at the day's high of 26,599.12 in early trade, its highest level since 25 August 2014. The index rose 83.66 points at the day's low of 26,526.47 in early afternoon trade.
The CNX Nifty was up 24.55 points or 0.31% at 7,929.30. The index hit a high of 7,946.85 in intraday trade, its highest level since 25 August 2014. The index hit a low of 7,924.30 in intraday trade.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. On BSE, 1,486 shares gained and 1,217 shares fell. A total of 151 shares were unchanged.
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The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 56.54 points or 0.61% at 9,315.36. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 94.15 points or 0.93% at 10,267.53. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
Among the 30-Sensex shares, 17 stocks gained while remaining declined.
FMCG stocks advanced. Marico (up 0.57%), Dabur India (up 2.65%), Godrej Consumer Products (up 1.84%), Nestle India (up 0.16%), Colgate-Palmolive (India) (up 1.96%), and Hindustan Unilever (up 1.05%) edged higher.
Shares of PSU OMCs and state-run upstream oil and gas companies advanced on hopes of announcement of reforms by the government on subsidies. BPCL (up 1.99%), HPCL (up 1.82%), Indian Oil Corporation (up 0.7%), ONGC (1.82%), and Oil India (up 2.21%) edged higher.
Public sector oil marketing companies (PSU OMCs) suffer under-recoveries on domestic sale of diesel, LPG and kerosene at a controlled price. The government has adopted the policy of gradually increasing diesel prices to eliminate under recovery and deregulate the diesel prices. The government has already freed pricing of petrol.
State run upstream companies share a part of the under recoveries of state-run oil marketing companies (PSU OMCs) by allowing discount in the prices of crude oil, PDS kerosene, and domestic LPG based on the rates of discount communicated by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell.
GAIL (India) fell 0.56% as the stock turned ex-dividend today, 27 August 2014, for final dividend of Rs 5.90 per share for the year ended 31 March 2014.
Shares of companies with significant sales to Europe gained as expectations grew for further monetary stimulus measures from the European Central Bank. Havells India surged 5.83% at Rs 288.65. Motherson Sumi Systems was up 3.62% at Rs 369.70. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories rose 1.09% at Rs 2,921.90. Tata Motors was up 1.18%.
Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) rose 1.78% after the company during market hours said that the commodities market regulator Forward Market Commission (FMC) has conveyed its approval to Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMBL) for its proposed acquisition upto 15% of equity share capital of MCX.
Shares of KMBL were down 2.05% at Rs 1,035.05.
GVK Power & Infrastructure (GVK) was locked at 5% upper circuit at Rs 13.02 after the company led consortium leased a land parcel in Mumbai for commercial development to Oasis Realty for Rs 580 crore.
Shriram EPC was locked at 20% upper circuit at Rs 34.20 on reports the corporate debt restructuring cell has approved a Rs 2530 crore debt recast proposal of the company.
UCO Bank tumbled 7.98% on reports the government has ordered limited forensic audit into some of the non-performing loan accounts of the bank to find out any irregularities, if any, in sanction of loans.
Excel Crop Care rose 2% at Rs 954.90. The stock turned ex-dividend today, 27 August 2014, for dividend of Rs 12.50 per share for the year ended 31 March 2014.
Container Corporation of India lost 0.28% as the stock turned ex-dividend today, 27 August 2014, for final dividend of Rs 5.30 per share for the year ended 31 March 2014.
Aditya Birla Nuvo fell 0.63% as the stock turned ex-dividend today, 27 August 2014, for dividend of Rs 7 per share for the year ended 31 March 2014.
The sentiment on the bourses was boosted by provisional data showing that foreign funds were net buyers of Indian during the previous trading session. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 364.72 crore on Tuesday, 26 August 2014, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.
The market may remain volatile in the near future as traders roll over positions in the futures & options (F&O) segment from the near month August 2014 series to September 2014 series. The near-month August 2014 F&O contracts expire tomorrow, 28 August 2014.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged slightly lower against the dollar. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 60.45, compared with its close of 60.44 on Tuesday, 26 August 2014.
Crude oil prices rose ahead of the weekly US oil inventory data from the US government. Brent for October settlement was up 54 cents at $103.04 a barrel. The contract fell 15 cents to settle at $102.50 a barrel yesterday, 26 August 2014, after reaching $103.40 during the session. The US is the world's biggest oil consumer.
At a meeting yesterday, 26 August 2014, the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) decided against investing in equities and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). The finance ministry had suggested EPFO to invest in equities to enhance returns for subscribers.
The government yesterday, 26 August 2014, notified increase in foreign direct investment limit to 49% from 26% in the defence sector. The hike in FDI ceiling could encourage domestic manufacture of defence goods which are imported.
European shares edged lower amid initial volatility today, 27 August 2014. Key indices in Germany and France were off 0.07% to 0.22%. In UK, the FTSE 100 index was up 0.02%.
There are expectations of quantitative easing and other steps by the European Central Bank (ECB) to bolster growth and counter downward pressures on prices in the euro zone. At US Federal Reserve's annual symposium in the United States on 22 August 2014, ECB President Mario Draghi said that expectations of future inflation in Europe exhibited significant declines at all horizons this month.
Asian stocks rose today, 27 August 2014, after data signaled a stronger US economy and Russia's president hailed as "positive" talks over Ukraine. Key benchmark indices in Indonesia, Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea were up 0.11% to 0.98%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.67%.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could gain 16 points at the opening bell on Wednesday, 27 August 2014. US stocks edged higher on Tuesday, 26 August 2014, to lift the S&P 500 index just a hair above the 2,000 mark, its first close above that milestone, after data that pointed to a brighter future for the US economy.
Bookings for goods meant to last at least three years climbed by a record 22.6% in July after a 2.7% gain in June that was bigger than previously reported, data from the Commerce Department in Washington showed. The Conference Board's US consumer confidence index rose to 92.4 in August, the highest since October 2007, the New York-based private research group said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, 26 August 2014, said talks with his Ukrainian counterpart over separatist fighting that's killed more than 2,000 people were "positive."
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