Key benchmark indices continued to languish in red as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept its benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate unchanged at 7.5% after first bi-monthly Monetary Policy review for 2015-16 announced today, 7 April 2015. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was currently off 92.16 points or 0.32% at 28,412.30. The RBI vowed to keep monetary policy accommodative, but warned that it will be watching consumer inflation closely. The RBI expects increase in inflation based on the consumer price index to 5.8% by the end of the current financial year after easing to around 4% August 2015. Metal and mining stocks edged higher.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday, 6 April 2015, said that legitimate taxes must be paid and should not be perceived as 'tax terrorism'. Jaitley said at a Confederation of Indian Industry conference in New Delhi that while India does not practice tax terrorism, it is not a tax haven either.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 936.81 crore yesterday, 6 April 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 170.03 crore yesterday, 6 April 2015, as per provisional data.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged lower against the dollar.
Brent crude oil futures edged lower after a leading foreign investment bank said prices needed to remain low for months to achieve a slowdown in US crude oil output growth.
In overseas markets, European stocks edged higher as investors returned from the long holiday break and followed up on a rally in the US fueled by interest-rate expectations. Asian markets edged higher after overnight gains in US stocks. US stocks rose yesterday, 6 April 2015, as the disappointing job data announced last week spurred speculation the US Federal Reserve will keep interest rates low.
At 14:16 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 92.16 points or 0.32% at 28,412.30. The index lost 230.10 points at the day's low of 28,274.36 in afternoon trade. The index jumped 136.62 points at the day's high of 28,641.08 in early trade, its highest level since 19 March 2015.
The CNX Nifty was down 53.60 points or 0.62% at 8,606.30. The index hit a low of 8,586.85 in intraday trade. The index hit a high of 8,693.60 in intraday trade, its highest level since 19 March 2015.
The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 52.18 points or 0.48% at 10,922. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 85.98 points or 0.76% at 11,385.28. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. On BSE, 1,394 shares gained and 1,208 shares fell. A total of 93 shares were unchanged.
Metal & mining stocks gained. JSW Steel (up 2.01%), Bhushan Steel (up 1.89%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 5.81 %), Hindustan Copper (up 2.62%), Sesa Sterlite (up 1.54%), Hindalco Industries (up 0.89%), Hindustan Zinc (up 0.06%), Tata Steel (up 2.19%), Steel Authority of India (Sail) (up 0.93%), National Aluminum Company (up 1.68%) and NMDC (up 0.04%) gained.
Aditya Birla Nuvo rose 4.46%. With respect to news titled "Aditya Birla group plans mega retail merger via share swap," Aditya Birla Nuvo stated during market hours that in the ordinary course of the business, the company keeps on evaluating growth and re-structuring opportunities across the businesses of the Aditya Birla Group (ABG). The company confirmed that presently there is no proposal which has reached the stage which would trigger Clause 36 of the Listing Agreement.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged lower against the dollar. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 62.395, compared with its close of 62.19 during the previous trading session.
Brent crude oil futures edged lower after a leading foreign investment bank said prices needed to remain low for months to achieve a slowdown in US crude oil output growth. Brent for May settlement was down 76 cents at $57.36 a barrel.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today, 7 April 2015, kept its benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate unchanged after first bi-monthly Monetary Policy review for 2015-16. The RBI also kept the cash reserve ratio (CRR) of scheduled banks unchanged at 4% of net demand and time liability (NDTL). The RBI said that going forward, the accommodative stance of monetary policy will be maintained and monetary policy actions will be conditioned by incoming data. The RBI said it will await the transmission by banks of its front-loaded rate reductions in January and March into their lending rates. The RBI said that developments in sectoral prices, especially those of food, will be monitored, as will the effects of recent weather disturbances and the likely strength of the monsoon, as the central bank stays vigilant to any threats to the disinflation that is underway. The RBI will look to a continuation and even acceleration of policy efforts to unclog the supply response so as to make available key inputs such as power and land. Further progress on repurposing of public spending from poorly targeted subsidies towards public investment and on reducing the pipeline of stalled investment will also be helpful in containing supply constraints and creating room for monetary accommodation, the RBI said. The RBI will also watch for signs of normalisation of the US monetary policy, though it anticipates India is better buffered against likely volatility than in the past.
The RBI said that the central bank will stay focussed on ensuring that the economy disinflates gradually and durably, with CPI inflation targeted at 6% by January 2016 and at 4% by the end of 2017-18. Although the target for end-2017-18 and thereafter is defined in terms of a tolerance band of plus/minus 2% around the mid-point, it will be the RBI's endeavour to keep inflation at or close to this mid-point of 4%. The RBI's intent is to allow the disinflationary momentum to spread through the economy.
According to RBI, CPI inflation is projected at its current levels in the first quarter of 2015-16 and is expected to ease thereafter to around 4% by August. The CPI inflation is expected to rise thereafter to reach 5.8% by the end of the current financial year.
Assuming a normal monsoon, continuation of the cyclical upturn in a supportive policy environment and no major structural change or supply shocks, GDP growth for 2015-16 is projected at 7.8%, higher by 30 basis points from 7.5% in 2014-15, but with a downward bias to reflect the still subdued indicators of economic activity.
The central bank said that comfortable liquidity conditions should enable banks to transmit the reduction in the repo rate announced in January and March into their lending rates, thereby improving financing conditions for the productive sectors of the economy.
With regard to measures for the financial markets, the RBI intends to expand, in consultation with the Government of India, the scope of issue of rupee bonds in overseas markets by the international financial institutions and also to permit Indian corporates eligible to raise external commercial borrowing (ECB) through issuance of rupee bonds in overseas centers with an appropriate regulatory framework.
Meanwhile, with a view to encourage hedging of forex exposures and enhancing the liquidity of the currency options market, the RBI has decided to allow Indian exporters and importers to write covered options on the basis of actual contracted forex exposure, subject to conditions. The RBI will announce detailed operating instruction in this regard.
The RBI has decided to allow NBFC-IDFs to provide take-out finance for infrastructure projects that have completed one year of operation in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) segment without a tripartite agreement and to the non-PPP segment, subject to certain conditions. These NBFCs have been hitherto allowed only to provide take-out finance for infrastructure projects in the PPP segment under a tripartite agreement involving, among others, the project authority.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday, 6 April 2015, said that legitimate taxes must be paid and should not be perceived as 'tax terrorism'. Jaitley said at a Confederation of Indian Industry conference in New Delhi that while India does not practice tax terrorism, it is not a tax haven either. Jaitley said that the aim of the government is to create a conducive business environment by addressing the challenges faced, especially with respect to taxation, the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement bill, and corruption. To facilitate ease of doing business, the government is focusing on tax reforms with the aim of pushing for the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and lowering the corporate tax rate.
With respect to the land law, which is commonly perceived as anti-farmer and detrimental to the cause of rural India, Jaitley said the government was cognizant of the large population that would get impacted, but was also aware of the potential of this to unleash productivity and employment. Amendments in the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement bill are required to support building of rural infrastructure including roads, irrigation and industrial corridors, Jaitley said.
The Finance Minister said that the government will do its share by creating a policy framework that enables economic growth. The time now, he said, is to slog to implement the changes at the ground level. Jaitley sought the industry's support in implementing these changes.
In overseas markets, European stocks edged higher today, 7 April 2015, as investors returned from the long holiday break and followed up on a rally in the US fueled by interest-rate expectations. Key benchmark indices in Germany, UK, and France were up 0.86% to 1.12%.
Markit Economics said today, 7 April 2015, that the growth rate of the eurozone economy continued to improve in March. At 54, up from 53.3 in February, the final Markit Eurozone PMI Composite Output Index rose to an 11-month high and its joint-highest level for almost four years.
Markit Economics said today, 7 April 2015, March data signalled a further rise in service sector activity in Germany, with the rate of expansion the strongest in six months. This was highlighted by the seasonally adjusted final Markit Germany Services Business Activity Index rising from February's 54.7 to 55.4. The final Markit Germany Composite Output Index -which measures the combined output of the manufacturing and service sectors -meanwhile rose from February's 53.8 to an eight-month high of 55.4 in March.
Growth of activity in the French service sector was recorded for a second consecutive month during March. However, the rate of expansion was modest and slower than in February. The final seasonally adjusted headline Markit France Services Business Activity Index-registered 52.4 in March down slightly from 53.4 in February.
Asian markets rose today, 7 April 2015, after overnight gains in US stocks. Key indices in Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, and Taiwan rose by 0.03% to 2.52%.
Stock markets in Hong Kong remain closed today, 7 April 2015, for Ching Ming Festival.
Trading in US index futures indicates that the Dow Jones industrial average could gain 6 points at the opening bell today, 7 April 2015. US stocks rose yesterday, 6 April 2015, as the disappointing job data announced last week spurred speculation the US Federal Reserve will keep interest rates low.
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