Carnage on the Dalal street continued as key benchmark indices plummeted to hit fresh intraday low in mid-afternoon trade as weakness in global stocks, rupee hitting record low against the dollar and the concerns that passage of food security bill will weigh on country's fiscal and current account deficit spoiled sentiment. The S&P BSE Sensex slipped below the psychological 18,000 mark. The Sensex was down 594.25 points or 3.2%, off about 500 points from the day's high and up close to 40 points from the day's low. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. HDFC extended intraday losses. Capital goods pivotals also stretched intraday losses. Bank stocks led losses on the bourses. Pharma stocks also declined.
The market edged lower in early trade. It extended losses and hit fresh intraday low in morning trade. It further weakened and hit fresh intraday low in mid-morning trade. It further extended losses and hit fresh intraday low in early afternoon trade. Weakness prevailed in afternoon trade as a weak opening in European equity markets dampened investor sentiment. It tumbled to hit fresh intraday low in mid-afternoon trade.
Global stocks fell on Tuesday after US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US President will hold Syria's government accountable for using chemical weapons against Syrian civilians.
The market sentiment was also affected adversely by data showing that foreign funds remained net sellers of Indian stocks on Monday, 26 August 2013. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 607.43 crore on Monday, 26 August 2013, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.
Meanwhile, the rupee trimmed losses after weakening past 66 against the dollar to hit record low today, 27 August 2013. The partially convertible rupee was trading at 65.71 per dollar, sharply lower than its close of 64.30 on Monday, 26 August 2013. Rupee depreciation fuels inflation, increases import bill and current account deficit. It also increases the government's spending on fuel subsidies, potentially widening the fiscal deficit.
The market is expected to remain volatile in the near term as traders roll over positions in the futures & options (F&O) segment from the near month August 2013 series to September 2013 series. The near month August 2013 derivatives contract expire on Thursday, 29 August 2013.
At 14:20 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 594.25 points or 3.2% to 17.963.88. The index tumbled 633.02 points at the day's low of 17,925.11 in mid-afternoon trade, its lowest level since 22 August 2013. The index declined 97.41 points at the day's high of 18,460.72 in early trade.
The CNX Nifty was down 183.75 points or 3.36% to 5,292.75. The index hit a low of 5,278.65 in intraday trade, its lowest level since 22 August 2013. The index hit a high of 5,427.40 in intraday trade.
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. On BSE, 1,421 shares fell and 632 shares rose. A total of 124 shares were unchanged.
Among the 30-share Sensex pack, 24 stocks fell and rest of them rose. NTPC (down 5.33%), ITC (down 4.25%), and Coal India (down 5.88%), edged lower from the Sensex pack.
Capital goods pivotals declined. L&T lost 5.25%.
Bhel dropped 8.14%, with the stock sliding on profit booking after gaining 21.97% in prior four sessions.
Bank stocks declined across the board. From private sector banks, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank shed by 3.2% to 8.06%.
Among PSU bank stocks, State Bank of India, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank dropped by 2.31% to 5.65%.
HDFC lost 9.43%, with the stock extending intraday losses.
Pharma stocks also declined. Cipla (down 0.41%), Dr Reddy's Laboratories (down 0.14%), Lupin (down 2.55%), Ranbaxy Laboratories (down 4.55) and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (down 4.9%), dropped.
Meanwhile, India's cabinet has approved infrastructure projects worth Rs 183000 crore, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram reportedly said on Tuesday, part of a government drive to fast-track clearances and win back investor confidence. A cabinet panel cleared 18 power projects at a cost of Rs 83000, Chidambaram said.
Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Food Security Bill after considering all the amendments, with the Opposition saying they will support the bill even though it is half-baked. The bill seeks to provide cheap foodgrains to 82 crore people in the country, ushering in the biggest programme in the world, to fight hunger. The ambitious bill was adopted by the House through a voice vote after a nine-hour combined discussion on the measure and a statutory resolution seeking to disapprove the ordinance promulgated on 5 July. Over 300 amendments moved by the opposition were rejected. The bill proposes subsidised foodgrain for up to 75% of the rural and up to 50% of the urban population. It proposes meal entitlement to specific groups. Eligible households would get five kg of foodgrain per person every month at Rs 3 per kilo of rice, Rs 2 per kilo of wheat and Rs 1 per kilo of coarse grains.It still needs to be passed by the upper house, the Rajya Sabha, to become law.
Meanwhile, the government has reportedly extended the monsoon session of parliament by seven days until September 6, giving the Congress party-led ruling coalition more time to pass economic reforms after weeks of disruptions in the house. The government will try to pass a bill to allow foreign investment in the pension sector during the extended session, a law seen as a first step to building a viable private pension industry in India. Also up for debate is a bill setting rules for compensation for land acquired for infrastructure projects and industry, a move seen as raising costs but potentially reducing protests that have plagued India's industrialization drive.
Based on the current assessment of prevailing and evolving market conditions, the Reserve Bank has decided to conduct Open Market Operations by purchasing the government securities for an aggregate amount of Rs 8000 crore on 30 August 2013 through multi-security auction using the multiple price method.
European stock markets edged lower on Tuesday, reflecting some concerns that the US could be nearing possible military action against Syria. Key benchmark indices in UK, France and Germany were down by 0.83% to 1.51%.
Asian stocks fell on Tuesday after US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US President will hold Syria's government accountable for using chemical weapons against Syrian civilians. Key benchmark indices in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan fell by 0.11% to 3.75%. China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.34%.
China's industrial-profit growth rebounded in July, adding to signs that the world's second-biggest economy is stabilizing after a two-quarter slowdown and an interbank lending squeeze in June. Net income rose 12% from a year earlier after gaining 6.3% in June, the statistics bureau said in Beijing today.
Economic data in South Korea showed the nation's consumer confidence was unchanged in August.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could fall 69 points at the opening bell on Tuesday, 24 August 2013. US stocks closed lower on Monday after Secretary of State John Kerry warned that the United States would demand accountability after an obscene chemical weapons attack on Syrian civilians. More than 100,000 people have died in clashes between forces loyal to Assad and rebels trying to oust him from power in Syria over the past two and a half years.
On US economic data front, the Commerce Department reported new orders for durable manufactured goods plunged 7.3% in July, much sharper than the 5% drop expected.
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