Indices shrug-off trade war fears; Sensex ends 83 pts up at 35,658 levels


The benchmark indices pared most of their day’s gains to end marginally higher on Friday tracking recovery in the global markets.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 35,658, up 83 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,773, up 23 points.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Auto index settled over 1% led by rise in the stocks of Ashok Leyland, Hero MotoCorp and Tata Motors.

The rupee recovered 21 paise from intra-day low of 69.03 to trade at 68.82 against the US dollar in late morning deals. As the US is set to impose tariffs on Chinese goods today and sustained foreign capital outflows pressured the sentiment, the rupee fell sharply to 69.03 a dollar before quoting 68.82. The rupee moved in range between 68.82 and 69.03.

Shares of paint company Asian Paints, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) firm Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and information technology giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) from the Sensex have hit their respective new highs on the BSE on Friday. Thus far in the current calendar year 2018, these three stocks have outperformed the market by gaining in the range of 15% to 39%, as compared to 4.5% rise in the S&P BSE Sensex.
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Sensex ends flat on Friday, Nifty holds 10,300; PSU banks gain


Benchmark indices ended flat on Friday, as investors remained cautious after sentiment soured on renewed fears of a trade war after US President Donald Trump proposed more tariffs on China.

Back home, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday adopted a remarkably dovish tone, surprising analysts who were expecting the firming up of rates in the medium term, even as one of the six members in the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted for a hike in an otherwise status quo policy.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 33,627, up 30 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,331, up 6 points.

Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom) said on Friday it received the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal’s (NCLAT) approval to proceed with the sale of its tower and fibre business.

Shares of public sector bank were in focus for the second straight day with Nifty PSU Bank index nearly 1%, extending its Thursday’s 5% surge, after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintained status quo on the key short-term borrowing rate in its first bi-monthly monetary policy for the financial year 2018-19 (FY19) on Thursday.

Punjab National Bank (PNB), Allahabad Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, Bank of India and Canara Bank were up in the range of 1% to 4% on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

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Moody’s upgrade lifts market mood; Sensex up 236 pts, Nifty ends above 10,200


Benchmark indices ended higher on Friday after global rating agency Moody’s Investors Service upgraded India’s sovereign rating to Baa2 from Baa3 and changed the outlook to stable from positive.

This development that will give a big boost to Modi government, reduce the cost overseas borrowing and improve investments in India. Rating company, while justifying the upgrade said that the reforms undertaken by the government will “improve the business climate, enhancing productivity, stimulating foreign and domestic investment, and ultimately fostering strong and sustainable growth.”

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 33,342, up 236 points, while the broader Nifty50 settled at 10,283, up 69 points.

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Nifty ends on Friday at 9,400 ahead of inflation data, up 1% for the week


 

Benchmark indices ended lower with the Nifty settling at 9,400 as investors turned cautious ahead of inflation data and booked profits in recent outperformers.

 

Consumer price inflation (CPI) is expected to have eased to a three-month low of 3.49% in April from 3.81% the previous month, according to Reuters poll. The government will also unveil the new series of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) as well as Wholesale Price Index (WPI), with 2011-12 as the base year, later in the day.

 

Both Sensex and Nifty hit record highs of in the previous two sessions, and were up more than 1% for the week. This is a second consecutive week of gains for the indices.

 

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 30,188, down 62 points, while the broader Nifty50 settled at 9,401, down 21 points.

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RCom-Aircel Merger: The Real Story Is Promoter Fatigue & Pathway To Exit


Rcom Aircel.jpg

The original article written by R Jagannathan, Editorial Director, Swarajya and can be found here.

The big headline in business papers today – that Reliance Communications (RCom) and Aircel will merge to create a 50:50 joint venture between Anil Ambani and Maxis Communications of Malaysia – is not the real one. The real headline should read: “RCom-Aircel merger prepares ground for one partner to exit at the appropriate time.” It could, of course, be both partners exiting in favour of a more moneyed giant. It is a case of promoter fatigue.

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