A sudden slide took key benchmark indices to negative zone from positive zone in mid-afternoon trade. Just before the slide in mid-afternoon trade, key indices had remained firm. The 50-unit CNX Nifty fell below the psychological 8,000 level, after regaining that mark in afternoon trade. High volatility materialized today, 30 September 2014, after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept its main lending rate unchanged after a monetary policy review announced at 11:00 IST. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was currently down 27.80 points or 0.1% at 26,569.31. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. Pharma stocks gained as rupee edged lower against the dollar.
Earlier, key indices had extended gains after the RBI's policy announcement at 11:00 IST. Before that, key indices had moved into positive zone in morning trade after languishing in negative terrain earlier during the day.
Meanwhile, a Vision Statement for the US-India Strategic Partnership released ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with US President Barack Obama later today, 30 September 2014, stated that the United States and India are committed to expand and deepen their strategic partnership in order to harness the inherent potential of the two democracies and the burgeoning ties between people, economies, and businesses of the two nations. Modi's five-day visit to the US concludes today.
In overseas markets, European stocks rose ahead of a key report on inflation in the eurozone. Asian stocks declined amid concern over tensions in Hong Kong and as a Chinese manufacturing gauge missed estimates. US stocks ended lower yesterday, 29 September 2014, following protests in Hong Kong that added to worries about Chinese growth and after a disappointing forecast from Ford Motor Co.
Brent crude oil prices edged higher as Ukraine's army suffered its highest casualties since signing a truce early this month in new clashes with pro-Russian fighters that are threatening to shatter a cease-fire that brought calm to the six-month old conflict.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged lower against the dollar as a potential increase in US interest rates and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East damped demand for emerging-market assets.
More From This Section
At 14:15 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 27.80 points or 0.1% at 26,569.31. The index lost 82.15 points at the day's low of 26,514.96 in mind-afternoon trade, its lowest level since 26 September 2014. The index jumped 254.22 points at the day's high of 26,851.33 in afternoon trade, its highest level since 23 September 2014.
The CNX Nifty was down 6.65 points or 0.08% at 7.952.25. The index hit a low of 7,932.05 in intraday trade, its lowest level since 26 September 2014. The index hit a high of 8,030.90 in intraday trade, its highest level since 24 September 2014.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. On BSE, 1,402 shares rose and 1,312 shares fell. A total of 116 shares were unchanged.
The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 11.26 points or 0.12% at 9,528.04. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 31.75 points or 0.3% at 10,699.42. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
Pharma stocks gained as rupee edged lower against the dollar. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (up 2.28%), Ranbaxy Laboratories (up 1.33%), Aurobindo Pharma (up 0.55%), Cipla (up 1.23%), Wockhardt (up 1.6%), Dr Reddy's Laboratories (up 1.02%), Divi's Laboratories (up 0.99%), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (up 0.34%) and Cadila Healthcare (up 0.51%) gained. Lupin fell 0.33%. Weakness in rupee could boost sales of pharma companies in rupee terms as pharma firms derive substantial revenue from exports.
Strides Arcolab rose 2.68% after the company said that it has entered into an agreement with GMS Holdings (GMS) whereby GMS will invest $21.90 million for a 25.1% stake in Stelis Biopharma (Stelis), the biotech arm of Strides, to fund its Greenfield project. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 of 2014 and is subject to customary closing conditions, regulatory and corporate approvals, as may be required, Strides Arcolab said.
Housing Development & Infrastructure rose 2.5% after the company said its promoters have revoked all shares pledged with IL&FS Trust Company. IL&FS Trust has released over 7.54 crore equity shares of promoters, including those of Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan. The released shares in the latest tranche comprise 51.89% of the total shares pledged by promoter group. With the latest release of pledged shares by IL&FS Trust, the total number of pledged shares by HDIL promoters now stands nil, the company said.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) after its fourth bi-monthly monetary policy review today, 30 September 2014, kept its main lending rate viz. the repo rate unchanged at 8% as it waited for more signs that inflation is retreating. The RBI also kept the cash reserve ratio unchanged at 4% of net demand and time liabilities (NDTL). It has reduced the liquidity provided under the export credit refinance (ECR) facility from 32% of eligible export credit outstanding to 15% with effect from 10 October 2014.
RBI Governor Dr. Raghuram Rajan said in monetary policy statement that future food prices and the timing and magnitude of held back administered price revisions impart some uncertainty to an otherwise improving inflation outlook, where lower oil prices, a relatively stable currency, and a negative output gap continue to put downward pressure. Base effects will also temper inflation in the next few months only to reverse towards the end of the year, the RBI said. The Reserve Bank of India will look through base effects. The central bank said that the full impact of the skewed rainfall distribution carries risks to the future path of food inflation, though vegetable prices have fallen recently after the recent spike.
Meanwhile, the RBI has eased norms for importers for hedging foreign exchange risk. The central bank has raised the eligible limit for importers under the past performance route to 100% from the existing 50% i.e., importers can hedge up to 100% of the average of past three years' import turnover or the preceding year's import turnover, whichever is higher, subject to compliance with other conditions applicable for hedging under this route.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged lower against the dollar as a potential increase in US interest rates and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East damped demand for emerging-market assets. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 61.58, compared with its close of 61.53 during the previous trading session. Reports showing an acceleration in US economic growth and signs of improvement in the labor market boosted odds that the Federal Reserve will raise borrowing costs next year.
Brent crude oil prices edged higher as Ukraine's army suffered its highest casualties since signing a truce early this month in new clashes with pro-Russian fighters that are threatening to shatter a cease-fire that brought calm to the six-month old conflict. Brent for November settlement was up 13 cents at $97.33 a barrel. The contract had risen 20 cents to settle at $97.20 a barrel yesterday, 29 September 2014.
Finance Secretary Dr Arvind Mayaram said at a function in Chennai yesterday, 29 September 2014, that that the government is committed to an early roll-out of the goods and services tax (GST), providing gainful employment to its youth through its skill development programme, fast tracking work on industrial corridors and bringing in the requisite amendments in the Land Acquisition Act to expedite project clearances.
European stocks rose Tuesday, 30 September 2014, ahead of a key report on inflation in the eurozone. Key benchmark indices in France, UK and Germany were up 0.01% to 0.54%.
German unemployment unexpectedly increased in September, the country's labor agency said Tuesday, suggesting that the labor market in Europe's largest economy is beginning to weaken after a contraction in output last quarter.
Asian stocks declined today, 30 September 2014, amid concern over tensions in Hong Kong and as a Chinese manufacturing gauge missed estimates. Key benchmark indices in South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore were off 0.08% to 1.2%. Key benchmark indices in China, and Taiwan rose 0.07% to 0.26%.
Activity in China's vast factory sector showed signs of steadying in September as export orders climbed, a private survey showed today, 29 September 2014, easing fears of a hard landing but pointing to a still-sluggish economy facing considerable risks. The final HSBC/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) hovered at 50.2 in September, unchanged from the August reading which was a three-month low, but lower than a preliminary reading of 50.5. A sub-index measuring new export orders, a gauge of external demand, expanded to a 4-1/2-year-high of 54.5, though domestic demand appeared soft. The 50 mark separates expansion from contraction in activity on a monthly basis.
China will release its official factory PMI tomorrow, 1 October 2014.
Small numbers of protesters reportedly continued to block roads in central Hong Kong in the fifth day of pro-democracy demonstrations today, 30 September 2014, as leaders warned the standoff would escalate if their demands are not met. Protest organizers are insisting that the city's top political figure, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, resign and that the government in Beijing drops plans to control who gets to run as Leung's successor in 2017.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could gain 34 points at the opening bell on Tuesday, 30 September 2014. US stocks ended lower on Monday, 29 September 2014, following protests in Hong Kong that added to worries about Chinese growth and after a disappointing forecast from Ford Motor Co.
Data on Tuesday showed US consumer spending rose by 0.5% last month, after being little changed in July, adding to signs the world's largest economy is on a stronger footing.
Powered by Capital Market - Live News