Bank stocks led a sharp slide in key benchmark indices after disappointing results from ICICI Bank and weak results from state-run Bank of Baroda (BoB). The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, and the 50-unit CNX Nifty, both settled at their lowest level in more than a week. The sharp slide for the benchmark indices materialized as trading in US index futures indicated a weak opening of US stocks later in the global day and as European stocks reversed intraday gains. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was negative. The Sensex lost 498.82 points or 1.68% to settle at 29,182.95
Shares of a number of PSU bank stocks dropped after a sharp post result setback in BoB counter. ICICI Bank dropped after the bank reported an increase in sticky loans in Q3 December 2014. Coal India dropped as the divestment of the government's up to 10% stake in the state-run Coal major was concluded through the stock exchanges mechanism through a single trading session today, 30 January 2015. Power equipment major Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) hit 52-week high. NTPC rose after declaring Q3 result.
HCL Technologies scaled a record high after the company's board of directors at its meeting held today, 30 January 2015 recommended a liberal 1:1 bonus issue. Power generation stocks gained on renewed buying. Realty stocks edged higher on reports the finance ministry has floated a draft cabinet note to amend the Foreign Exchange Management Act to permit overseas funds in real estate investment trusts (REITs).
Meanwhile, a deluge of new share sales could soak liquidity from the secondary equity markets in the coming months. After the big ticket divestment of Coal India which was concluded through the stock exchanges mechanism today, 30 January 2015, divestment of government stake in ONGC, Power Finance Corp (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation has been lined up through the next two months, according to media reports. Many private companies are also considering raising funds, according to reports. On Wednesday, 28 January 2015, HDFC Bank received Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs' approval to raise up to Rs 10000 crore from foreign investors. Early this week, Tata Motors announced plans to raise Rs 7500 crore through a rights offer. State Bank of India (SBI) said early this week that the bank's Committee of Directors for Capital Raising has decided to take enabling approval from the shareholders of the bank for raising additional equity share capital up to Rs 15000 crore by way of follow-on-public issue or rights issue or private placement, including qualified institutions placement (QIP)/global depository receipt (GDRs)/American depository receipt (ADRs) and/or any other mode(s) or a combination(s) thereof.
Earlier, the Sensex and the 50-unit CNX Nifty, both, reversed direction after hitting record high at the onset of the trading session and hit one-week low.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee reversed intraday gains against the dollar as key equity benchmark indices in India slumped.
Brent crude oil futures edged higher in choppy trade.
In overseas markets, European stocks reversed initial gains. Asian stocks also edged lower. US stocks registered broad-based gains yesterday, 29 January 2015, after weekly US jobless claims fell to the lowest level in 14 years.
The S&P BSE Sensex fell 498.82 points or 1.68% to settle at 29,182.95, its lowest closing since 22 January 2015. The index plunged 611.29 points at the day's low of 29,070.48 in mid-afternoon trade, its lowest level since 22 January 2015. The index jumped 162.39 points at the day's high of 29,844.16 at the onset of the trading session, a record high for the index.
The CNX Nifty fell 143.45 points or 1.6% to settle at 8,808.90, its lowest closing level since 22 January 2015. The index hit a low of 8,775.10 in intraday trade, its lowest level since 22 January 2015. The index hit a high of 8,996.60 in intraday trade, a record high for the index
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was negative. On BSE, 1,620 shares declined and 1,241 shares gained. A total of 114 shares were unchanged.
The BSE Mid-Cap index was off 32.49 points or 0.3% to settle at 10,738.59. The BSE Small-Cap index was off 49.49 points or 0.43% to settle at 11,329.26. The fall in these two indices was lower than the Sensex's decline in percentage terms.
The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 3997 crore, higher than Rs 3744.47 crore yesterday, 29 January 2015.
Power generation stocks gained on renewed buying. Reliance Infrastructure (up 5.78%), Tata Power Company (up 3.52%), CESC (up 0.36%), Reliance Power (up 3%), Jaiprakash Power Ventures (up 5.22%) and JSW Energy (up 1.8%) edged higher.
NTPC rose 1.27% after company's net profit rose 7.43% to Rs 3074 crore on 1.27% decline in total income to Rs 19339.37 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. The Q3 result was announced during market hours today, 30 January 2015.
The Government has promulgated Coal Mines (Special Provision) Ordinance 2014 on 21 October 2014 wherein five coal blocks alloted to the company have been cancelled. As per section 5 of the said ordinance, the cancelled coal blocks may be allotted to a Government Company subject to fulfillment of certain conditions. The Coal Ministry has earmarked 36 coal blocks under section 5(1) of ordinance. The company expects the allotment of the cancelled blocks in its favour. Accordingly, the company considers the expenditure incurred on these blocks as good, NTPC said.
Siemens fell 0.61%. Siemens' net profit surged 873.93% to Rs 634.03 crore on 7.71% decline in total income to Rs 2216.28 crore in Q1 December 2014 over Q1 December 2013. The Q1 result was announced during market hours today, 30 January 2015.
Siemens' net profit during the quarter was boosted by exceptional income. There was an exceptional income of Rs 704.58 crore in Q1 December 2014 compared with an exceptional income of Rs 16.20 crore in Q1 December 2013.
Exceptional income in Q1 December 2014 represents profit on sale of Metals Technologies business to VAI Metals Technologies (a subsidiary of VAI Metals Technologies GmbH, Germany) which was sold for a consideration of Rs 1023.27 crore as a slump sale on a going concern basis with effect from the close of business hours on 31 December 2014 and a profit of Rs 704.58 crore has been recorded.
Siemens' new orders rose 4.01% to Rs 2089.30 crore in Q1 December 2014 over Q1 December 2013.
Coal India dropped as the divestment of the government's up to 10% stake in the state-run Coal major was concluded through the stock exchanges mechanism through a single trading session today, 30 January 2015. The stock lost 3.88% to Rs 360.60. The stock was volatile. The stock hit high of Rs 364 and low of Rs 360.10. The Coal India Offer for Sale (OFS) was fully bid. Bids were received for a total of 61.98 crore shares for divestment of the government's stake in the state-run coal major, as per data from the stock exchanges. The government had put on block 31.58 crore shares of Coal India, constituting 5% equity, with an option to sell additional up to 31.58 crore shares through the stock exchanges mechanism. The floor price for the offer for sale (OFS) of Coal India's shares was set at Rs 358 per share.
Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) gained 1.95% to Rs 292.75 after hitting a 52-week high of Rs 297.35 in intraday trade.
HCL Technologies jumped 9.12% to Rs 1,796 after scaling a record high of Rs 1,834 in intraday trade. On a consolidated basis and as per US GAAP standards, the company's net profit rose 2.3% to Rs 1915 crore on 6.3% growth in revenue to Rs 9283 crore in Q2 December 2014 over Q1 September 2014. HCL Technologies said that the company's board of directors at its meeting held on 30 January 2015 recommended a liberal 1:1 bonus issue. The board also declared interim dividend of Rs 8 per share for the year ending 30 June 2015. The announcement was made before market hours today, 30 January 2015.
HCL Technologies' EBIT (earnings before interest and taxation) rose 5.9% to Rs 2210 crore in Q2 December 2014 over Q1 September 2014. HCL Technologies' consolidated net profit rose 7% to $308 million on 4% growth in revenue to $1491 million in Q2 December 2014 over Q1 September 2014. Revenue in constant currency rose 6.2% in Q2 December 2014 over Q1 September 2014.
HCL Technologies said that it has witnessed broad based business growth across geographies, verticals and horizontals. The 6.2% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) rise in revenue in constant currency in Q2 December 2014 is the highest in the last 16 quarters, HCL Technologies said in a statement.
Tech Mahindra shed 0.55%. On a consolidated basis, the company's net profit rose 11.9% to Rs 805 crore on 4.8% increase in revenue to Rs 5752 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q2 September 2014. Tech Mahindra said that net profit includes special adjustment of Rs 28.50 crore of half year ended 30 September 2014 profits of Mahindra Engineering Services (MESL) in Q3 December 2014 numbers. The Q3 result was announced after market hours today, 30 January 2015.
Tech Mahindra's operating profit (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization) {EBITDA} rose 5.7% to Rs 1160 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q2 September 2014.
Tech Mahindra's board of directors at its meeting held today, 30 January 2015, has considered and approved for issue of one bonus equity share for every one equity share and also approved 2-for-1 stock split.
Our continued focus on operational excellence is yielding tangible results for our stakeholders. said Vineet Nayyar, Executive Vice Chairman, Tech Mahindra.
We will make greater investments into Digital Transformation and ride the wave of opportunities that spot the business landscape Today said CP Gurnani, MD & CEO, Tech Mahindra.
IDFC rose 0.91%. On a consolidated basis, IDFC's net profit fell 15.79% to Rs 421.60 crore on 15.98% increase in total income to Rs 2462.08 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. The Q3 result was announced after market hours yesterday, 29 January 2015.
On absolute basis, gross non-performing assets (NPAs) edged up to Rs 368.58 crore as on 31 December 2014, from Rs 342.38 crore as on 30 September 2014 and Rs 340.80 crore as on 31 December 2013. The ratio of gross NPAs to gross advances rose to 0.68% as on 31 December 2014, from 0.62% as on 30 September 2014 and 0.62% as on 31 December 2013. The ratio of net NPAs to net advances stood at 0.47% as on 31 December 2014 compared with 0.42% as on 30 September 2014 and 0.5% as on 31 December 2013.
Bank of Baroda (BoB) tumbled 11.59% to Rs 192.25. The stock dropped sharply after announcing weak Q3 result during market hours today, 30 January 2015. The stock was highly volatile. The stock hit a low of Rs 187.90. The stock hit high of Rs 220.80.
The bank reported 68.12% fall in net profit to Rs 333.98 crore on 11.16% rise in total income to Rs 11808.34 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. BOB's net profit during the quarter was dragged down by sharp surge in provisions and spike in tax liability.
The bank's provisions and contingencies jumped 65.67% to Rs 1262.25 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. Non performing loan provisioning coverage stood at 62.37% as on 31 December 2014.
BoB's tax liability jumped 99.56% at Rs 742.81 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. Tax expense in Q3 December 2014 includes an amount of Rs 374.86 crore levied by Dubai Income Tax Authorities, pertaining to earlier years. In addition, penalty of Rs 38.44 crore was also levied by the tax authority, which is included in other operating expenses.
BoB's ratio of gross non-performing assets (NPAs) to gross advances stood at 3.85% as on 31 December 2014 compared with 3.32% as on 30 September 2014 and 3.32% as on 31 December 2013. The ratio of net NPAs to net advances stood at 2.11% as on 31 December 2014 compared with 1.74% as on 30 September 2014 and 1.88% as on 31 December 2013.
BoB's Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) as per Basel III stood at 12.42% as on 31 December 2014 compared with 12.19% as on 30 September 2014 and 12.01% as on 31 December 2013.
Shares of a number of other PSU bank stocks dropped after a sharp post result setback in BoB counter. State Bank of India (SBI) (down 5%), Punjab National Bank (down 4.77%), Canara Bank (down 5.74%), Bank of India (down 4.93%) and Union Bank of India (down 3.2%) dropped.
Shares of private sector banks also edged lower. HDFC Bank (down 1.38%), IndusInd Bank (down 0.71%), ING Vysya Bank (down 1.21%), Axis Bank (down 1.7%) and Yes Bank (down 1.26%), declined.
ICICI Bank tumbled 5.17% after declaring Q3 result during market hours today, 30 January 2015. The bank's net profit rose 14.09% to Rs 2889.04 crore on 8.91% increase in total income to Rs 15526.88 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013.
ICICI Bank's net non-performing assets (NPA) edged up to Rs 4831 crore as on 31 December 2014, from Rs 3997 crore as on 30 September 2014 and Rs 3121 crore as on 30 December 2013. The net NPA ratio edged up to 1.12% as on 31 December 2014, from 0.96% as on 30 September 2014 and 0.81% as on 31 December 2013. Net loans to companies whose facilities have been restructured were Rs 12052 crore as on 31 December 2014, higher than Rs 11020 crore as on 30 September 2014 and Rs 8602 crore as on 30 December 2013.
The bank's ratio of current and savings account (CASA) deposits to total deposits improved to 44% as on 31 December 2014, from 43.7% as on 30 September 2014. The bank's average CASA ratio was at 39.3% in Q3 December 2014.
ICICI Bank's net interest income (NII) rose 13% to Rs 4812 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. Non interest income rose 10% to Rs 3091 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013.
ICICI Bank's net interest margin (NIM) improved to 3.46% in Q3 December 2014, from 3.32% in Q3 December 2013. The bank's provisions jumped 41% to Rs 980 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013.
The bank's provision coverage ratio, computed in accordance with RBI guidelines, was 63.5% as at 31 December 2014.
ICICI Bank said that it has continued with its strategy of pursuing profitable growth. The bank continued to grow its retail franchise and has seen strong growth in the retail loan portfolio.
On consolidated basis, ICICI Bank's net profit rose 13.68% to Rs 3265.32 crore on 12.21% growth in total income to Rs 23053.82 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013.
Kotak Mahindra Bank slipped 0.97%. Shares of Bharti Airtel fell 0.56%. Kotak Mahindra Bank after trading hours yesterday, 29 January 2015, announced that it has agreed, subject to regulatory approvals, to invest 19.90% in Airtel M Commerce Services (AMSL), a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, on AMSL obtaining the Payment Bank licence from Reserve Bank of India.
Separately, Bharti Airtel announced after trading hours yesterday, 29 January 2015, that the company's wholly owned subsidiary Airtel M Commerce Services (AMSL) is seeking to convert its existing Prepaid Payment Instrument license into a Payments Bank license to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It also announced that subject to grant of a Payments Bank license to AMSL by the RBI and all regulatory approvals, Kotak Mahindra Bank (Kotak) will acquire 19.90% stake in AMSL as an investor. AMSL offers mobile money services under the brand name Airtel Money
JSW Steel shed 0.13%. On a consolidated basis, JSW Steel reported 29.48% fall in net profit to Rs 328.94 crore on 2.94% fall in total income to Rs 13235.94 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. JSW Steel's operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) stood at Rs 2296 crore in Q3 December 2014. Total saleable steel sales volume fell 2% to 3.03 million tonne in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. The result was announced during market hours today, 30 January 2015.
Benign inflation, lower commodity price outlook and a reversal of monetary tightening cycle should bode well for year ending 31 March 2016 economic outlook, JSW Steel said.
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise fell 3.44%. The company announced during trading hours that Sanofi-Synthelabo (India) has invested in Apollo Sugar Clinics (ASCL). ASCL is a disease management clinic focused on providing integrated care across its clinics for people suffering with diabetes. ASCL is a subsidiary of Apollo Health Lifestyle. The latter is wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise. An amount of Rs 90 crore is being invested by Sanofi-Synthelabo (India) in ASCL through a combination of primary and secondary funding.
Adani Enterprises jumped 10.06% to Rs 642.75 after hitting a 52-week high of Rs 646 in intraday trade. On a consolidated basis, Adani Enterprises' net profit surged 550.8% to Rs 443.85 crore on 29.52% rise in total income to Rs 18074.93 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013.
Adani Power rose 0.87%. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone fell 1.51%. The board of directors of Adani Enterprises (AEL) today unanimously approved the scheme of demerger of the diversified businesses of the company. Adani Enterprises together with its subsidiaries Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) and Adani Power (APL) today announced a composite Scheme of Arrangement (Scheme) for the demerger of the 'Port Undertaking' of AEL into APSEZ and demerger of the 'Power Undertaking' of AEL into APL and the emerging simplification of the corporate structure of the Adani Group. The Scheme also involves the demerger of the 'Transmission Undertaking' of AEL into Adani Transmissions (ATL), a wholly owned subsidiary of AEL and the resulting listing of ATL on the BSE and the National Stock Exchange of India. Further Adani Mining (AMPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of AEL is proposed to be merged into AEL under the aforesaid Scheme.
Transaction is expected to unlock value for the shareholders of AEL by eliminating holding company discount, the company said in a press release.
The transactions contemplated under the Scheme are expected to close by 31 December 2015. It may however be noted that certain transactions may be completed earlier and the aforesaid date of December 31, 2015 is only an indicate timeline and is subject to timely receipt of all applicable regulatory and statutory approvals, the company said.
Pursuant to the demerger of the Port Undertaking of AEL into APSEZ, APSEZ to issue and allot new equity shares to the equity shareholders of AEL in the ratio of 14123 equity shares in APSEZ for every 10000 equity shares held by the equity shareholder in AEL as of the record date for the purpose of the Scheme. The equity shares held by AEL in APSEZ to be cancelled pursuant to the Scheme, Adani Enterprises said.
Pursuant to the demerger of the Power Undertaking of AEL into APL, APL to issue and allot new equity shares to the equity shareholders of AEL in the ratio of 18596 equity shares in APL for every 10000 equity shares held by the equity shareholder in AEL as of the record date for the purpose of the Scheme. The equity shares held by AEL in APL to be cancelled pursuant to the Scheme.
Pursuant to the demerger of the Transmission Undertaking of AEL into ATL, ATL to issue and allot new equity shares to the equity shareholders of AEL in the ratio of 1 equity share in ATL for every 1 equity share held by the equity shareholder in AEL as of the record date for the purpose of the Scheme. The equity shares held by AEL in ATL to be cancelled pursuant to the Scheme.
Aurobindo Pharma rose 2.29% to Rs 1,250.70 after scaling a record high of Rs 1,251.85 in intraday trade.
Realty stocks edged higher on reports the finance ministry has floated a draft cabinet note to amend the Foreign Exchange Management Act to permit overseas funds in real estate investment trusts (REITs). DLF (up 2.86%), Indiabulls Real Estate (up 6.55%), Housing Development and Infrastructure (up 16.09%), D B Realty (up 7.18%), Unitech (up 4.48%), Oberoi Realty (up 0.78%), and Parsvnath Developers (up 3.15%) gained.
At present, foreign investment in real estate assets, specifically completed commercial real estate properties, whether rent yielding or not, is not permitted under FEMA. The FEMA had been amended in 2005 to allow foreign direct investment in development of townships, construction of residential and commercial premises, roads and bridges.
Finance minister Arun Jaitley had announced real estate investment trusts (REITS) and infrastructure investment trusts in his budget in July 2014 to enable developers and banks to reduce their debt.
Berger Paints India fell 1.05%. On a consolidated basis, the company's net profit fell 0.18% to Rs 82.13 crore on 8.49% increase in total income to Rs 1126.23 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. The Q3 result was announced after market hours today, 30 January 2015.
ICRA rose 1.43% to Rs 3,365. The stock was volatile. The stock hit high of Rs 3,512.15, which is a record high for the counter. The stock hit a low of Rs 3,350. ICRA's consolidated net profit rose 21% to Rs 17.78 crore on 15% growth in total income to Rs 85.23 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. The Q3 result was announced after market hours yesterday, 29 January 2015.
ICRA's growth in top line is attributable to 891% jump in other income in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. ICRA's operating income rose 12% to Rs 82.98 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013.
Esab India fell 3.65% after net profit declined 27.8% to Rs 5.10 crore on 0.4% growth in net sales to Rs 109.77 crore in Q4 December 2014 over Q4 December 2013. The Q4 result was announced after market hours yesterday, 29 January 2015.
SKS Microfinance jumped 2.45% after net profit rose 91.62% to Rs 41.05 crore on 48.13% increase in total income to Rs 206.89 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. The Q3 result was announced after market hours yesterday, 29 January 2015.
SKS Microfinance's board at its meeting held on 29 January 2015 approved a proposal for making an application to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for getting a license for Small Finance Bank based on the Guidelines for Licensing of Small Finance Banks in the Private Sector issued by RBI on 27 November 2014 and clarification issued on 1 January 2015.
Hindustan Construction Company surged 19.86% after net profit jumped 403.5% to Rs 27.14 crore on 28.5% growth in net sales to Rs 1094.69 crore in Q3 December 2014 over Q3 December 2013. The Q3 result was announced after market hours yesterday, 29 January 2015.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee reversed intraday gains against the dollar as key equity benchmark indices in India slumped. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 61.93, compared with its close of 61.875 during the previous trading session.
Brent crude oil futures edged higher in choppy trade. Brent for March settlement was up 40 cents at $49.53 a barrel. The contract had gained 66 cents a barrel or 1.36% to settle at $49.13 a barrel during the previous trading session.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is widely expected to keep its main lending rate viz. the repo rate unchanged at 7.75% after a monetary policy review next week. The sixth bi-monthly monetary review from the RBI is scheduled on Tuesday, 3 February 2015. The central bank may focus on the details of the upcoming Union Budget 2015-16 which is scheduled on 28 February 2015, before taking a call on further monetary policy easing. The RBI surprised financial markets by announcing a cut in the repo rate by 25 basis points in an unscheduled monetary policy review on 15 January 2015, citing easing of inflationary pressures in the economy. The annual rate of inflation based on the combined consumer price indices (CPI) for urban and rural India rose to 5% in December 2014 from 4.4% in November 2014. Over the long term, the RBI aims to restrict consumer price inflation to 4%, within a two-per-cent band.
European stocks edged lower today, 30 January 2015, in choppy trade. Key benchmark indices in Germany, UK and France were down 0.48% to 0.73%.
The Bank of Russia cut interest rates on today, 30 January 2015 painting a gloomy economic picture and prompting the ruble to fall. The central bank cut its key rate by 2 percentage points to 15% after raising rates six times over the past year. The deposit rate was cut to 14%, while the repo rate went down to 16%. The statement issued after the central bank's board meeting was the latest acknowledgment by Russia's leadership that its economy will face protracted pain amid falling oil prices and a confrontation with the West over Ukraine.
Consumer prices in the eurozone fell more sharply and more broadly in January. The European Union's statistics agency said today, 30 January 2015 that consumer prices were 0.6% lower than in January 2014, having fallen 0.2% on an annual basis in December. The decline in prices was the largest since July 2009.
French consumer spending increased by 1.5% in December, data released today, 30 January 2015 showed. November's figure was revised to a 0.2% gain from a previously estimated 0.4% advance.
Another data released today, 30 January 2015 showed that Spanish gross domestic product rose 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2014, up from a growth rate of 0.5% in the previous quarter.
German retail sales rose less than expected in December, but the annual figures suggest that consumption continued to act as a pillar to economic growth in the final quarter of last year. Retail sales in December rose 0.2% in calendar- and inflation-adjusted terms compared with November, the Federal Statistics Office said Friday.
Asian stocks edged lower today, 30 January 2015. Key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan were off 0.09% to 1.59%. Key benchmark indices in Japan and Indonesia were up 0.39% to 0.51%.
Japan's industrial output rose a seasonally adjusted 1% in December from the previous month, government data showed today, 30 January 2015 signaling the economy may have started to recover slowly following last year's consumption tax hike. The rise in December came after a 0.5% fall in November.
Taiwan's economy expanded more slowly in the fourth quarter, as falling oil prices hurt petrochemical exports, though demand for electronics remained strong. Taiwan's gross domestic product rose 3.17% from a year earlier in the final quarter of 2014, the lowest rate in five quarters, and 1.17% from the previous quarter, an initial official reading showed today, 30 January 2015. The economy expanded 3.63% in the third quarter of 2014.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could fall 151 points at the opening bell today, 30 January 2015. US stocks closed higher yesterday, 29 January 2015 as an upturn in oil prices and a rally in Apple and Boeing shares helped offset some disappointing earnings and lingering questions over US monetary policy.
In economic news, the number of people who applied for US unemployment-insurance benefits plunged 43,000 to 265,000 in the week that ended Jan. 24, hitting the lowest tally in 14 years, according to Labor Department data released yesterday, 29 January 2015.
Separately, pending home sales cooled in December, which the National Association of Realtors attributed to fewer homes available for sale and a slight rise in prices. The pending home sales index fell 3.7% during December, though the year-on-year gain was 11.7%, the highest since June 2013.
The US Commerce Department releases its first estimate of fourth-quarter GDP today, 30 January 2015.
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