After range bound movement in morning trade, key benchmark indices trimmed gains in mid-morning trade. Even after trimming intraday gains, the benchmark indices were trading with decent gains for the day on the back of a surprise decision by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to cut RBI's main lending rate viz. the repo rate by 25 basis points in an unscheduled monetary policy review just before trading hours today, 4 March 2015. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was currently trading below the psychological 30,000 level after crossing that level for the first time in its history at the onset of the trading session. The 50-unit, CNX Nifty, was currently trading above the psychological 9,000 level after crossing that mark at the onset of the trading session. The Nifty had settled just a tad below the psychological 9,000 level yesterday 3 March 2015.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. The Sensex was currently up 266.14 points or 0.9% at 29,859.87.
Meanwhile, the outcome of a survey showed that India's services sector activity expanded at its fastest pace in eight months in February, boosted by a solid rise in new work.
Telecom stocks advanced as the auction of telecom spectrum begins today, 4 March 2015.
Earlier, the Sensex and the Nifty, both, surged at the onset of the trading session as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) surprised financial markets by announcing a cut in its benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate by 25 basis points in an unscheduled monetary policy review just before trading hours. Both these key benchmark indices struck record high at the onset of the trading session.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 772.92 crore yesterday, 3 March 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 303.88 crore yesterday, 3 March 2015, as per provisional data.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged higher against the dollar after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) surprised financial markets by announcing a cut in its benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate by 25 basis points in an unscheduled monetary policy review today, 4 March 2015.
Brent crude oil futures edged lower after previous trading session's gains.
In overseas markets, Asian stocks edged lower. US stocks declined yesterday, 3 March 2015, as data showing weaker-than-expected growth in monthly car sales dampened spirits.
At 11:16 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 266.14 points or 0.9% at 29,859.87. The index jumped 431.01 points at the day's high of 30,024.74 at the onset of the trading session, a lifetime high for the index. The index gained 219.40 points at the day's low of 29,813.13 in mid-morning trade.
The Nifty was up 68.35 points or 0.76% at 9,064.60. The index hit a high of 9,119.20 in intraday trade, a lifetime high for the index. The index hit a low of 9,051.75 in intraday trade.
The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 49.87 points or 0.45% at 11,131.70. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 56.45 points or 0.49% at 11,585.34. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. On BSE, 1,355 shares gained and 954 shares fell. A total of 99 shares were unchanged.
Telecom stocks advanced as the auction of telecom spectrum started today, 4 March 2015. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (up 0.55%) and Reliance Communications (up 2.19%) edged higher. Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) (down 1.31%) edged lower.
The auctions of spectrum or airwaves for the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 megahertz (MHz) bands began today, 4 March 2015.
Bharti Airtel rose 2.09% at Rs 356.45. With respect to media reports titled Airtel, Ericsson extend services deal, Bharti Airtel after market hours yesterday, 3 March 2015, clarified that it is a routine ordinary course of business transaction wherein the company has renewed its existing agreement with Ericsson. The transaction does not have any material or significant impact on the operations of the company, Bharti Airtel said.
Idea Cellular rose 4.08% at Rs 159.70. In a clarification with regard to news item titled "Idea in 3 year pact with Ericsson", Idea Cellular after market hours yesterday, 3 March 2015, said that the news item is relating to purchase of telecom equipments in the regular course of business and is not anything extra-ordinary that would trigger any reporting requirement.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged higher against the dollar after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) surprised financial markets by announcing a cut in its benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate by 25 basis points in an unscheduled monetary policy review today, 4 March 2015. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 61.84, compared with its close of 61.92 during the previous trading session.
Brent crude oil futures edged lower after previous trading session's gains. Brent for April settlement was off 29 cents at $60.73 a barrel. The contract had advanced $1.48 a barrel or 2.48% to settle at $61.02 a barrel during the previous trading session.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) surprised financial markets today, 4 March 2015, by announcing a reduction in its benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate by 25 basis points in an unscheduled monetary policy review. The repo rate has been cut to 7.5% from 7.75%, with immediate effect. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan cited relatively benign inflation and structural reforms embedded in Union Budget 2015-16 for the decision to cut the repo rate.
The RBI said that further monetary actions will be conditioned by incoming data, especially on the easing of supply constraints, improved availability of key inputs such as power, land, minerals and infrastructure, continuing progress on high-quality fiscal consolidation, the pass through of past rate cuts into lending rates, the monsoon outturn and developments in the international environment.
The RBI said disinflation is evolving at a faster pace than earlier envisaged. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan said in a statement that softer readings on inflation are expected to come in through the first half of 2015-16 before firming up to below 6% in the second half. The government's fiscal consolidation programme, while delayed, may compensate in quality, especially if state governments are cooperative. Given low capacity utilisation and still-weak indicators of production and credit off-take, it is appropriate for the RBI to be pre-emptive in its policy action to utilise available space for monetary accommodation, Rajan said. The RBI governor also pointed out to disinflationary impulses arising from a firm rupee.
The RBI governor said that there are many important and valuable structural reforms embedded in Union Budget 2015-16 which will help improve supply over the medium term. There is a welcome intent to shift from spending on subsidies to spending on infrastructure, and to better target and further reduce subsidies through direct transfers, Rajan said commenting on the Union Budget 2015-16 tabled by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in parliament on 28 February 2015. The central government is transferring a significantly larger amount to the states, without entirely devolving responsibility for funding central programmes. To the extent that state budget deficits narrow, the general fiscal deficit will be lower, according to the RBI governor. The realised net fiscal impulse will depend on both central and state government actions going forward.
Jaitley announced postponement of fiscal consolidation to the 3% target by one year while presenting Union Budget 2015-16 on 28 February 2015. Jaitley deferred the target of achieving 3% fiscal deficit by a year till FY 2018 from FY 2017 set earlier. Jaitley has set fiscal deficit target of 3.9% for 2015-16, 3.5% for 2016-17 and 3% for 2017-18.
The RBI said that uncertainties surrounding inflation projection are not insignificant. Oil prices have firmed up in recent weeks, and significant further strengthening, perhaps as a result of unanticipated geo-political events, will alter the inflation outlook, the RBI said. Other international commodity prices are expected to remain benign, given still-sluggish global demand conditions. Food prices will be affected by the seasonal upturn that typically occurs ahead of the south-west monsoon and, therefore, steps the government takes on food management will be critical in determining the inflation outlook, the RBI said. The possible spill over of volatility from international financial markets through exchange rate and asset prices channels is also still a significant risk, the RBI said.
The central government, last month, signed a memorandum with the Reserve Bank of India, setting out clear inflation objectives for the RBI. Rajai said this makes explicit what was implicit before. Rajan said that the government and the Reserve Bank of India have common objectives and said that fiscal and monetary policy will work in a complementary way. Going forward, the RBI will seek to bring the inflation rate to the mid-point of the band of 4 +/- 2 per cent provided for in the agreement, i.e., to 4 per cent by the end of a two year period starting fiscal year 2016-17.
Rajan said that the RBI does not target a level for the exchange rate, nor does it have an overall target for foreign exchange reserves. It does intervene on occasion, in both directions, to reduce avoidable volatility in the exchange rate. Any reserve build-up is a residual consequence of such actions rather than a direct objective, Rajan said.
Meanwhile, the outcome of a survey showed that India's services sector activity expanded at its fastest pace in eight months in February, boosted by a solid rise in new work. The HSBC Services Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 53.9 in February from 52.4, its highest since June 2014.
In overseas markets, Asian stock markets edged lower today, 4 March 2015. Key indices in China, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Indonesia were off 0.19% to 0.6%. Key indices in Taiwan and Singapore were up 0.14% to 0.17%.
China's services sector strengthened by a fraction in February, according to HSBC. The monthly purchasing managers' index for the services sector was 52, a slight increase from the six-month low of 51.8 in January, latest data showed today, 4 March 2015. Any level above 50 reflects growth in the survey by HSBC and compiled by Markit.
Japan's services sector shrank last month, halting a three-month trend of meagre growth. Markit's monthly index of the services sector fell from 51.3 in January to 48.5, the lowest reading since April, latest data showed today, 4 March 2015. A score above 50 is needed to indicate growth.
Australia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annual pace of 2.5%, matching estimates, data showed today, 4 March 2015. This is the slowest year-to-year pace in four quarters. Quarterly GDP grew just 0.5%, missing the consensus estimate at 0.6%, though rising from an upwardly revised 0.4% pace in the prior quarter.
Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could fall 25 points at the opening bell today, 4 March 2015. US stock markets pulled back from recent highs to close lower yesterday, 3 March 2015, in light volume trade as investors weighed soft auto sales and looked ahead to domestic data.
In Europe, a monthly monetary policy review from the European Central Bank is scheduled tomorrow, 5 March 2015.
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