Key benchmark indices continued to trade within a narrow range near the flat line in negative terrain in afternoon trade. At 13:18 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was off 27.03 points or 0.1% at 27,780.26. The losses for the Nifty 50 index were higher in percentage terms than those for the Sensex. The Nifty was currently down 16.40 points or 0.19% at 8,504.65. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was weak. On BSE, 1,677 shares fell and 884 shares rose. A total of 132 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently off 0.62%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently off 0.68%. The fall in both these indices was higher than the Sensex's decline in percentage terms.
In overseas stock markets, European stocks edged higher in early trade and most Asian stocks rose, adding to the gains in the past few sessions amid improved risk appetite following the positive lead overnight from Wall Street. Japanese shares extended strong gains registered early this week after Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the government is planning to introduce a comprehensive and bold economic stimulus. The Nikkei 225 Average ended 0.84% higher. The Nikkei surged early this week after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling-coalition victory in the upper-house election stoked speculation of more fiscal stimulus. Meanwhile, Suga today, 13 July 2016, denied a local media report that said aides to Prime Minister Abe are considering the so-called helicopter money that involves a central bank directly buying government bonds to finance government spending or tax cuts as a possible policy measure.
US stocks edged higher yesterday, 12 July 2016, with Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 index, both, finishing at record high, reflecting hopes about stimulus from Japan and China along with optimism that the Bank of England will lower rates to help the UK economy sidestep the pitfalls of the so-called Brexit.
Shares of power generation and power distribution companies edged lower. Torrent Power (down 1%), NHPC (down 1.57%), Tata Power Company (down 0.89%), NTPC (down 0.63%), Power Grid Corporation of India (down 1.2%), Reliance Infrastructure (down 2.09%) and Reliance Power (down 1.04%) declined. GVK Power & Infrastructure (up 1.37%) and Adani Power (up 1.19%) gained.
Shares of PSU coal mining major Coal India rose 0.85%.
The BSE Power index had outperformed the market over the past one month till 12 July 2016, rising 5.16% compared with the Sensex's 4.4% rise. The index had, however, underperformed the market in past one quarter, advancing 10.41% as against Sensex's 10.59% rise.
Cement stocks dropped. ACC (down 0.26%), Shree Cement (down 3.89%), Ambuja Cements (down 0.27%), and UltraTech Cement (down 0.74%) declined.
Grasim Industries rose 0.12%. Grasim has exposure to the cement sector through its holding in UltraTech Cement.
MOIL rose 1.38% after the Minister of Steel Birender Singh advised the company to fast-track the ongoing projects and target completion of the projects in the pipeline before the scheduled time. Steel minister Birender Singh during a review meeting with top management of MOIL yesterday, 12 July 2016, exhorted the company to expand its manganese resource base as a long-term strategy. He appreciated MOIL's mid-term plans of diversification by sharing its mining expertise and downstream production on availability of captive power facilities. The minister discussed at length the challenges and opportunities in exploration and extraction of mineral resources like iron ore and manganese, a government statement released after market hours yesterday, 12 July 2016 said.
On the macro front, data released by government after market hours yesterday, 12 July 2016, showed that India's industrial production increased 1.2% in May 2016 over May 2015, while snapping 1.35% dip recorded in the previous month. The manufacturing sector production rebounded 0.7%, after two months of decline, contributing to the rise in industrial output in May 2016.
Another data released by government after market hours yesterday, 12 July 2016, showed that inflation based on the consumer price index (CPI) accelerated to 5.77% in June 2016 from 5.76% in May 2016. Increase in food prices was responsible for the acceleration in consumer price inflation. The consumer food price index rose to 7.79% in June 2016 from 7.47% in May 2016. The core CPI inflation fell to 4.39% in June 2016 from 4.49% in May 2016.
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