Auto stocks, private sector banks and index heavyweights led rally as key benchmark indices surged on the last trading session of the week. The market sentiment was boosted by the government yesterday, 7 May 2015, announcing the setting up a committee to suggest ways to resolve the minimum alternative tax (MAT) dispute with foreign investors as well as some other tax issues. Decline in crude oil prices overnight and rupee's recovery against the dollar after a recent steep slide also helped boost sentiment on the domestic bourses. The rally for key benchmark indices materialized as European stocks rose, chiefly driven by a surge in London's FTSE 100 as the UK's ruling Conservative Party looked likely to claim victory in one of the closest-fought election battles in recent history. The barometer index the S&P BSE Sensex, reclaimed the psychological 27,000 level.
The broad market showed strength. There were more than two gainers against every loser on BSE. The Sensex was provisionally up 483.78 points or 1.82% at 27,082.89. The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 1.7%. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 1.7%. Quite a few stocks which are the constituents of the BSE Small-Cap index were up between 2% to about 20%.
Key indices snapped three-day losing streak today, 8 May 2015.
FMCG major Hindustan Unilever (HUL) rose after the company reported Q4 results. Realty stocks edged higher. High volumes accompanied a sharp slide in Punjab National Bank counter after the state-run bank reported weak Q4 March 2015 results. Hero MotoCorp (HMCL) declined after reporting weak Q4 results.
In overseas markets, European stocks edged higher, chiefly driven by a surge in London's FTSE 100 as the UK's ruling Conservative Party looked likely to claim victory in one of the closest-fought election battles in recent history. Asian stocks edged higher on signs global bond markets are stabilising after a big selloff. US stocks rose yesterday, 7 May 2015, a day after they fell in the wake of the Federal Reserve chief's warning over high equity valuations.
Foreign portfolio investors sold shares worth a net Rs 1360.69 crore yesterday, 7 May 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1158.02 crore yesterday, 7 May 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.
As per provisional figures, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 483.78 points or 1.82% at 27,082.89. The index surged 597.17 points at the day's high of 27,196.28 in late trade, its highest level since 6 May 2015. The index rose 215.27 points at the day's low of 26,814.38 in early trade.
The Nifty was up 134.20 points or 1.67% at 8,191.50, as per provisional figures. The index hit a high of 8,224.95 in intraday trade, its highest level since 6 May 2015. The index hit a low of 8,123.45 in intraday trade.
The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 170.65 points or 1.7% at 10,236.21. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 181.07 points or 1.7% at 10,829.06. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was quite strong, with more than two gainers against every loser on BSE. 1,861 shares rose and 836 shares fell. A total of 121 shares were unchanged.
The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 2948 crore, lower than turnover of Rs 3182.30 crore registered during the previous trading session.
FMCG major Hindustan Unilever (HUL) rose after the company reported Q4 results. The stock rose 3.38% to Rs 894.95. The company's net profit rose 16.73% to Rs 1018.08 crore on 7.31% increase in total income to Rs 7774.04 crore in Q4 March 2015 over Q4 March 2014. The result was announced during trading hours. Higher net profit was aided by the exceptional income arising from the sale of properties/subsidiary. Profit before interest and tax (PBIT) margin improved by 1.9% in Q4 March 2015 over Q4 March 2014. The margin for the quarter includes one-time credit of Rs 71.50 crore towards a favourable outcome for a contested matter on excise duty. Input costs were benign during Q4 March 2015, reflected by 3.1% reduction in cost of goods sold over Q4 March 2014.
Realty stocks gained. Sobha (up 4.97%), Indiabulls Real Estate (up 3.73%), Unitech (up 6.27%), Housing Development & Infrastructure (HDIL) (up 9.11%), Oberoi Realty (up 3.15%), DLF (up 3.18%), Godrej Properties (up 1.01%) and Anant Raj (up 3.34%) edged higher.
Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) gained 2.04% to Rs 887.10. The stock hit high of Rs 893.40 and low of Rs 863.60.
Index heavyweight L&T gained 1.73% to Rs 1,595.10. The stock hit high of Rs 1,612 and low of Rs 1,584.50.
Index heavyweight HDFC gained 2.72% to Rs 1,186. The stock hit high of Rs 1,200 and low of Rs 1,116.10.
Index heavyweight HDFC Bank gained 2.55% to Rs 978. The stock hit high of Rs 987 and low of Rs 955.50.
High volumes accompanied a sharp slide in Punjab National Bank counter after the state-run bank reported weak Q4 March 2015 results. The stock was off 6.74% at Rs 145.65. On BSE, 33.72 lakh shares changed hands on the counter, compared with average daily volume of 7.36 lakh shares in the past one quarter. PNB's net profit declined 61.98% to Rs 306.56 crore on 7.66% growth in total income to Rs 13455.65 crore in Q4 March 2015 over Q4 March 2014. The result was announced during market hours today, 8 May 2015.
The results would have been worse but for a hefty tax reversal. There was a tax reversal of Rs 938.06 crore in Q4 March 2015 as against tax expense of Rs 228.39 crore in Q4 March 2014.
PNB's ratio of gross non-performing assets (NPAs) to gross advances stood at 6.55% as on 31 March 2015 as against 5.97% as on 31 December 2014 and 5.25% as on 31 March 2014. The ratio of net NPAs to net advances stood at 4.06% as on 31 March 2015 as against 3.82% as on 31 December 2014 and 2.85% as on 31 March 2014.
PNB's provisions and contingencies surged 79.27% to Rs 3834.19 crore in Q4 March 2015 over Q4 March 2014. Provision coverage ratio as on 31 March 2015 stood at 58.21%.
The bank's Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) as per Basel III norms stood at 12.21% as on 31 March 2015 as against 11.54% as on 31 December 2014 and 11.52% as on 31 March 2014.
Hero MotoCorp (HMCL) declined after reporting weak Q4 results. The stock fell 2.23% to Rs 2,301.55. The stock hit high of Rs 2,312 and low of Rs 2,256. The company's net profit after exceptional item fell 14.05% to Rs 476.53 crore on 4.31% growth in total turnover (net sales & other operating income) to Rs 6793.87 crore in Q4 March 2015 over Q4 March 2014. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 7 May 2015.
There was an impairment cost of Rs 155.04 crore ($25 million) in Q4 March 2015 pertaining to equity investment in Erik Buell Racing, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (EBR) through HMCL NA Inc, subsidiary of HMCL. EBR has filed an Assignment for Benefit of Creditors under Chapter 128 of the Wisconsin Statutes, which is similar to the federal bankruptcy law of the United States of America.
Pawan Munjal, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of HMCL said that the auto industry has remained sluggish due to the slowing rural economy on account of poor crop realization and moderating wages in the rural markets. Going forward, the company remains cautiously optimistic in its near to medium term outlook, Munjal said. An overall improvement in the economy and positive market sentiments are required for the industry to get back to the trend of healthy double digit growth, he added. HMCL will continue to focus on its strengths and keep providing the best of products to its customers in India and across the globe, Munjal said.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged higher against the dollar. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 63.945, compared with its close of 64.24 during the previous trading session.
Brent crude oil futures were currently unchanged in volatile trade after previous trading session's sharp decline. Brent for June settlement was unchanged at $65.92 a barrel. The contract had fallen $2.23 a barrel, or 3.29% to settle at $65.54 a barrel during the previous trading session.
The decline in global crude oil prices and deregulation of diesel price announced by the Indian government in October 2014 will help reduce the government's fuel subsidy burden and help contain its fiscal deficit. The slide in global crude oil prices will also help India in containing its current account deficit and fuel price inflation. India imports 80% of its crude oil requirement.
A recovery in the rupee against the dollar after a recent steep slide has also eased concerns about higher crude import costs. Gains in local currency will reduce the cost of imports.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday, 7 May 2015, announced the setting of a committee to suggest ways to resolve the minimum alternative tax (MAT) dispute with foreign investors as well as some other tax issues. While replying to the debate on Finance Bill 2015 in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley announced the setting up of a committee to be headed by Law Commission chairman A.P. Shah for resolving the MAT issue. While reiterating the government's earlier position that it would wait for a final word on the matter from the Supreme Court, Jaitley said the government would consider the recommendation of the committee and take an appropriate decision as soon as possible. The committee is requested to give its recommendations on the specific issue of MAT on foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) expeditiously, Jaitley said. The Rajya Sabha subsequently passed the Finance Bill.
Jaitley assured that on taxation, the government was committed to certainty and to providing an enabling environment to both domestic and foreign investors while avoiding any retrospective levies. The finance minister said he had provided relief from MAT to FPIs with prospective effect, starting this financial year. He added that in view of a ruling given by the Authority of Advance Rulings in 2012, it was not possible to provide any retrospective exemption.
Jaitley had, last week, moved amendments to exempt foreign investors' capital gains from the sale of securities, interest income, royalty and fees for technical services from MAT, in cases where the tax rate was less than 18.5%, a move which is expected to benefit private equity, venture capital investors and debt funds. In his budget speech on 28 February 2015, he had exempted capital gains accruing to FPIs from levy of MAT. But these provisions would only be applicable from 1 April, leaving past transactions open to litigation.
So far, most of the tax demand directing payment of MAT by FPIs has been only for the financial year ending 31 March 2012. But Indian law allows taxes to be recovered on income earned up to seven years earlier, so FPIs are concerned that they could face additional tax bills.
Meanwhile, the government yesterday, 7 May 2015, announced extension of Budget session of Lok Sabha by three more days till 13 May 2015. The government is particularly keen to introduce the land acquisition bill in the Lok Sabha, according to reports. The amended Land Acquisition Bill seeks to scrap the consent clause for acquiring land for five sectors industrial corridors, public private partnership projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence. The bill also exempts projects in these five areas from social impact assessments and allows the purchase of irrigated multi-cropped land and other types of agricultural land.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if the government is able to get the Constitution Amendment Bill in respect of goods and services tax (GST) passed in the Rajya Sabha. While the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance found it easy to pass the GST bill in the Lok Sabha where it is in a majority, the real test will come in the Rajya Sabha where the ruling alliance is in a minority, with 62 members in a 245-member house. The bill is expected to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha next week.
Being a constitutional amendment bill, the GST bill needs to be approved by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament and ratified by half the state legislative assemblies before coming into effect. GST, touted as the single biggest indirect taxation reforms since independence, will simplify and harmonise the indirect tax regime in the country. Central taxes like Central Excise Duty, Additional Excise Duties, Service Tax, Additional Customs Duty (CVD) and Special Additional Duty of Customs (SAD), etc. will be subsumed in GST. At the state level, taxes like VAT/Sales Tax, Central Sales Tax, Entertainment Tax, Octroi and Entry Tax, Purchase Tax and Luxury Tax, etc. would be subsumed in GST.
In overseas markets, European stocks edged higher today, 8 May 2015, after initial results reportedly showed that Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative Party is on course to form the government in UK on its own albeit with a slim majority in parliament. Key indices in Germany, UK and France were up 0.59% to 1.81%.
Various exit polls and returns from the UK election showed that the ruling Conservative Party looked likely to claim victory in one of the closest-fought election battles in recent history. Parliamentary elections were held in UK yesterday, 7 May 2015. The Conservatives' strong showing would be a far different result than the dead heat predicted in months of pre-election surveys, and have a far reaching, landscape-shifting impact on UK politics. Prime Minister David Cameron has promised voters a referendum on whether to stay in the European Union (EU).
German exports continued to rise in March, extending the previous month's gains, with solid growth in countries outside the eurozone, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed today, 8 May 2015. Exports rose 1.2%in March compared with February, according to calendar- and seasonally adjusted data, following a 1.4% increase in February, Destatis said. Imports rose 2.4% on the month in March, after a 1.3% growth in the previous month.
German industrial production in March was well below forecasts as capital goods output slumped from February, pushing total output down to levels seen last November, a further sign that Germany's upswing may not be as robust as previously thought. Industrial production, adjusted for inflation and seasonal swings, declined 0.5% in March from the previous month.
Asian stocks edged higher today, 8 May 2015, on signs global bond markets are stabilising after a big selloff. Key indices in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and Japan rose by 0.45% to 2.3%. Key indices in Taiwan and South Korea fell by 0.12% to 0.26%.
China's exports unexpectedly fell 6.4% in April from a year earlier, while imports tumbled by a deeper-than-forecast 16.2%, fueling expectations that Beijing will quickly roll out more stimulus to avert a sharper economic slowdown. That left the country with a trade surplus of $34.13 billion for the month, the General Administration of Customs said today, 8 May 2015.
US stocks rose yesterday, 7 May 2015, a day after they fell in the wake of the Federal Reserve chief's warning over high equity valuations. Economic news yesterday, 7 May 2015 showed jobless claims rose by 3,000 to 265,000 in the week ended May 2, the Labor Department said.
The US government will unveil US nonfarm payrolls data for April 2015 today, 8 May 2015. The payroll data may give clues to the likely timing of an anticipated rate increase by the US Federal Reserve.
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