Sensex snaps 6-day losing streak, up 52 points; autos lead rally


Domestic indices ended Friday’s lackluster trade with marginal gains. The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex and broader Nifty50 traded range-bound for better part of the day tracking corporate earnings and weakness in global markets.

The Sensex ended 52 points, or 0.14 per cent, higher at 37,883 levels pulled up by automobile manufacturers, banking and financial stocks. YES Bank, Bajaj Finance, Hero Moto Corp, and M&M ended the day as top gainers while Vedanta, HDFC, Bharti Airtel, and Reliance were the top laggards at the close. On the other hand, Nifty50 settled at 11,284 mark, up 32 points, or 0.29 levels.

In the broader market, S&P BSE MidCap ended 73 points, or 0.53 per cent, higher at 13,856 levels while the S&P BSE SmallCap closed 29 points, or 0.22 per cent, higher at 13,060 levels.

Sectorally, all the indices ended in the green barring Nifty IT index. Nifty Auto index was the top performing index, closing with gains of over 2 per cent. Nifty Bank, including private bank and public sector bank indices, and Nifty Pharma ended with gains of a per cent each. Nifty IT index closed with a cut of 0.82 per cent.

Continue Reading


Indices end flat, Sensex slips 27 pts; Suzlon Energy gains 31%


The benchmark indices settled flat on Friday amid a rise in automobile and metal stocks.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 35,871, down 27 points, while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,792, up 2 points.

Among sectoral indices, Nifty Auto index rose 1.5 per cent driven by gains in Motherson Sumi Systems and Tata Motors. The Nifty Metal index, too, rose 1.65 per cent led by Jindal Stainless (Hisar) and Welspun Corp.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index gained 54 points, or 0.38 per cent to 14,170, while S&P BSE SmallCap index settled at 13,518, up 104 points, or 0.77 per cent.

Shares of Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management surged 20 per cent to Rs 224 in intra-day trade, rallying 44 per cent in past two trading sessions on the BSE, after Reliance Capital decided to put its stake in the company up for grabs. The stock settled at Rs 199, up 6.3 per cent on Friday.

Suzlon Energy jumped 31 per cent to end at Rs 5.80 on the BSE. In intra-day deals, the stock had touched a high of Rs 6.15, rallying 68.5 per cent in the past two trading sessions from a level of Rs 3.65 on Wednesday,

Continue Reading


Sensex ends 361 pts higher ahead of exit polls outcome


Snapping their three-day losing streak, the benchmark indices settled around 1 per cent higher on Friday ahead of the outcome of state exit polls due later in the day.

That apart, market will also closely watch the outcome of OPEC-Russia meet, which is expected to come later in the day.

The S&P BSE Sensex climbed 361 points or 1.02 per cent to settle at 35,673 while NSE’s Nifty50 index added 93 points or 0.87 per cent to end at 10,694.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Bank index rose 1.5 per cent led by a rise in ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank. The Nifty Auto index, too, rose 0.9 per cent led by Bajaj Auto and Maruti Suzuki.

In the broader markets, the S&P BSE MidCap index rose 0.2 per cent to end at 14,717, while the S&P BSE SmallCap index slipped 0.3 per cent to 14,105.

On the political front, market participants are awaiting exit poll results of five state elections due after market hours today. The result of the assembly elections will likely set the tone for the general elections next year.

The rupee traded on a firm note during the day rising to 70.45 against the US dollar amid fall in oil prices ahead of the crucial OPEC meet outcome. The domestic unit on Thursday closed at 70.90.

Continue Reading


Sensex slips 79 pts, Nifty ends at 10,585; IT stocks weigh


The benchmark indices ended slightly lower on Friday led by a fall in information technology (IT) and metal stocks.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 35,159, down 79 points, while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,585, down 13 points.

Among the sectoral indices, the Nifty IT index fell 0.8 per cent weighed by Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The Nifty Metal index slipped 0.9 per cent due to a decline in NMDC. On the other hand, the Nifty Pharma index settled 1.4 per cent higher led by a rise in Sun Pharma.

In stock-specific action, Bharti Airtel fell 2.9 per cent to Rs 297 on the BSE after Moody’s Investors Service placed it’s rating on review for downgrade, following low levels of profitability and expectation of weak cash flow. The stock had fallen as much as 5.21 per cent to Rs 290 on the BSE in intra-day trade.

Continue Reading


Sensex cracks another 341 pts on Friday as banks, IT drag; YES Bank falls 9%


The benchmark indices settled around 1 per cent lower on Friday, led by a fall in the banking, information technology (IT) and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) stocks amid weakness in the Asian markets, which fell to a 20-month low.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 33,349, down 341 points, while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,030, down 95 points.

Among the sectoral indices, the Nifty IT index fell 1.9 per cent due to a fall in the shares of Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and HCL Technologies. The Nifty Bank index, too, declined 1.6 per cent weighed by YES Bank which fell 8.7 per cent after the private lender posted a fall of 3.8 per cent in net profit for the September quarter. The Nifty FMCG index settled 1.4 per cent lower dragged by ITC, which fell even as the company reported 11.92 per cent rise in standalone net profit to Rs 29.55 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Continue Reading


Sensex rises 732 pts, Nifty ends at 10,472; India VIX eases 8%


The benchmark indices ended over 2 per cent higher on Friday after the rupee rose against US dollar amid firm Asian markets.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 34,734, up 732 points (2.15 per cent), while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,472, up 238 points (2.32 per cent).

The rupee strengthened against the US dollar on Friday, rising 53 paise to 73.58 against the greenback in intra-day trade.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Auto index settled 4 per cent higher led by a rally in shares of Mahindra & Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki India. The Nifty Bank index, too, rose 2.5 per cent led by IndusInd Bank and ICICI Bank.

However, the Nifty IT index slipped 1 per cent lower led by a fall in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which fell 3 per cent to Rs 1,920 on the NSE after the company reported a lower than expected revenue growth of 3.7 per cent in constant currency (CC) terms in September quarter on the sequential basis. The Street was estimating revenue growth of 4 per cent in CC terms for the quarter.

Continue Reading


Sensex ends 373 points up as rupee recovers; PM eco meet eyed


The equity markets settled 1 per cent higher on Friday as the rupee recovered against the dollar.

The S&P BSE Sensex reclaimed the 38,000 mark to end at 38,091, up 373 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 11,515, up 145 points.

In the broader markets, the S&P BSE MidCap settled 1.6 per cent higher and the S&P BSE SmallCap rose 1.4 per cent.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Pharma index settled 2.5 per cent higher led by a rise in the share prices of Divi’s Laboratories and Piramal Enterprises. On the other hand, the Nifty Bank index rose 1.3 per cent led by YES Bank and IDFC Bank.

The rupee strengthened by over 60 paise to 71.58 against the US dollar in intra-day trade. On Wednesday, the domestic currency rebounded from its historic low of 72.91 to end higher by 51 paise at 72.18 against the dollar.

This apart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with finance ministry officials later in the day to discuss the fall in the rupee and other economic issues. Rupee is Asia’s weakest currency in 2018, down more than 12 percent on a widening current account deficit and higher oil prices.

Continue Reading


Sensex ends below 35,000; metal, pharma stocks drag


Benchmark indices dropped on Friday tracking global markets, while metal and pharma stocks pulled down the indices ahead of elections in the key state of Karnataka.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 34,915, down 188 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,618, down 61 points.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Metal index was trading over 1% lower led by a fall in shares of Hindustan Zinc and Hindalco. The Nifty IT index, too, was down led by a fall in shares of Mindtree and Wipro. Among the FMCG counters, ITC, Emami, GSK Consumer slipped over 2% on the NSE.

Pharma stocks pushed both indices lower, with the Nifty Pharma index falling over 1.5%.

Bajaj Auto, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), ITC, Reliance Industries (RIL), Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services (MMFS) and JSW Steel are the six stocks that Morgan Stanley is betting on in India to play its ‘growth at reasonable price’ (GARP) investment strategy.

An Indian jeweller that saw its market worth reach $3.6 billion at the start of the year is now floundering at about a quarter of that value after one of its founders gifted some shares to family members, raising concern about the company’s governance. PC Jeweller Ltd. slumped by about half after the company said last week that one of its founders P.C. Gupta made the gifts through off-market transactions. The stock has plunged 75 per cent from a record on January 19, taking its market capitalization to Rs 58.3 billion ($873 million). It climbed 21 per cent to Rs 146.85 as of 12.31 p.m. in Mumbai on Friday.

Realty firm Godrej Properties on Friday reported over two-fold jump in its consolidated net profit at Rs 1.41 billion for the January-March quarter of last financial year on higher sales. Its net profit stood at Rs 625.9 million in the year-ago period, the company said in a filing to the BSE.

Continue Reading


Sensex ends 137 pts down, Nifty at 10,458 levels; PSU banks fall


The benchmark indices ended marginally lower on Thursday afternoon amid thin trade. The S&P BSE Sensex ended the day at 34,047, down 137 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,458, down 34 points.

The markets will remain closed on Friday, March 2, 2018, on account of Holi.

Among sectoral indices, Nifty PSU Bank index fell 1.87% on Thursday led by a decline in the shares of Indian Bank, Canara Bank and Bank of India.

Venky’s (India) continued its upward march for the seventh straight trading day, hitting a new high of Rs 4,530, up 15% on the BSE in an otherwise subdued market. The stock rallied 69% from Rs 2,673 on February 20, 2018, as compared to 1.3% rise in the S&P BSE Sensex.

Fortis Healthcare was trading flat on Thursday even after the company reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 191 million for the quarter ended December 2017 against a profit of Rs 4.5 billion year-ago periods.

Continue Reading


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.

Continue Reading