Financials

The BSE benchmark Sensex today rose to its all-time high of 22,795.58 but settled the day a few points lower at 22,764.83 on hectic buying in blue-chip stocks L&T, ICICI Bank and SBI.

The 50-share Nifty of NSE breached the crucial 6,800-mark to end the day at 6,817.65, a rise of 38.25 points or 0.56 per cent. It set a fresh all-time high of 6,825.45 intra-day.

After a promising start, the BSE Sensex witnessed high volatility but a spurt of buying in the late afternoon trade lifted the index to its life-time high of 22,795.58.

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets gained 73.03 points or 0.32 percent during the pre-noon trade Monday.

Good buying was seen in capital goods, auto, metal and banking sectors, while marginal selling pressure was seen in IT and technology, media and entertainment (TECK) sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 22,644.75 points, was trading at 22,701.87 points in the pre-noon session, up 73.03 points or 0.32 percent from the previous day’s close at 22,628.84 points.

The shortened trading week saw the key indices ending flat after a roller-coaster ride on the back of a host of domestic developments related to inflation, factory output and corporate earnings.

The market succumbed to heavy profit-booking on the first two trading sessions on higher inflation (both WPI and CPI) as also contraction in factory output which renewed macro economic concerns.

However, healthy Q4 corporate earnings by some IT companies and optimism over a stable Government after the ongoing elections triggered heavy buying towards the tail-end.

India’s foreign exchange reserves jumped by USD 2.797 billion to USD 309.444 billion in the week ended April 11 on the back of a healthy rise in currency assets.

The total reserves had shot up by USD 2.974 billion to USD 306.647 billion in the previous week.

Foreign currency assets (FCAs), a major part of the overall reserves, rose USD 2.746 billion to USD 281.552 billion for the week ended April 11, RBI said today.

FCAs, expressed in dollar terms, include the effect of appreciation/depreciation of the non-US currencies such as the euro, pound and yen held in its reserves.

Investments into Indian shares through participatory notes (P-Notes), a preferred route for HNIs and hedge funds from abroad, surged to the highest level in nearly three years at Rs 2.07 lakh crore (over $34 billion) in March.

According to data released by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the total value of P-Note investments in Indian markets (equity, debt and derivatives) rose to Rs 2,07,639 crore at the end of March from Rs 1,72,738 crore in the preceding month.

Sebi on Thursday came out with detailed corporate governance norms for listed companies providing for stricter disclosures and protection of investor rights, including equitable treatment for minority and foreign shareholders.

The new rules, which would be effective from October 1, require companies to get shareholders’ approval for related party transactions, establish whistle blower mechanism, elaborate disclosures on pay packages and have at least a woman director on their boards.

The rupee today gained by 8 paise to close the day at 60.29 against the dollar in line with the surge in stock markets, breaking three-day losing streak.

Fresh dollar selling by exporters amid weak dollar overseas aided the rupee, forex dealers said, adding that sustained capital outflows restricted the gain in local currency.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the domestic currency resumed better at 60.30 a dollar from previous close of 60.37.

It swung between of 60.26 and 60.50 before concluding at 60.29, a rise of eight paise.

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets surged 202.71 points or 0.91 percent during the pre-noon trade Thursday.

All the sectors were trading in green and the rally was led by auto, banking, IT and metal sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 22,327.76 points, was trading at 22,479.94 points in the pre-noon session, up 202.71 points or 0.91 percent from the previous day’s close at 22,277.23 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 22,496.61 points and a low of 22,312.19 points in trade.

The benchmark BSE Sensex rose almost 78 points in early trade on Thursday after Tata Consultancy Services and HCL Technologies posted encouraging earnings.

Besides, a mixed trend in the global markets also buoyed the trading sentiment here.

The 30-share index, which had lost 438 points in the previous three sessions, recovered by 77.57 points, or 0.35 per cent, to 22,354.80, with stocks of IT, realty, auto, consumer durables and metal sectors leading the rise.

Similarly, the broader National Stock Exchange Nifty rose by 17.80 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 6,693.10.

The benchmark BSE Sensex rose almost 78 points in early trade today after Tata Consultancy Services and HCL Technologies posted encouraging earnings.

Besides, a mixed trend in the global markets also buoyed the trading sentiment here.

The 30-share index, which had lost 438 points in the previous three sessions, recovered by 77.57 points, or 0.35 per cent, to 22,354.80, with stocks of IT, realty, auto, consumer durables and metal sectors leading the rise.

Similarly, the broader National Stock Exchange Nifty rose by 17.80 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 6,693.10.

The Indian rupee weakened to 60.37 against a dollar Wednesday, registering a decline for the third straight session, as profit-taking by foreign investors in the stock markets put pressure on the local currency.

The partially convertible rupee closed at 60.37 against a dollar, 14 paise weaker than its previous day’s close at 60.23. The rupee had weakened by 14 paise Tuesday also.

This is the third straight day of fall in the value of Indian currency, the worst falling streak since January.

The rupee hit a low of 60.42 against a dollar and high of 60.18 in the intra-day.
(IANS)

The BSE benchmark index Sensex fell for the third straight day by losing 208 points on increased profit selling by funds in IT, capital goods and realty stocks.

The 30-share index dropped by 207.70 points, or 0.92 per cent, to close at 22,277.23 points. It had lost 230.40 points in last two sessions.

On similar lines, the broad-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange fell by 57.80 points, or 0.86 per cent, to 6,675.30 led by realty, IT and capital goods sectors.

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat at 18.52 points or 0.08 percent down during the pre-noon session Wednesday.

Good buying was seen in metal and banking sectors, while selling pressure was seen in IT and capital goods sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 22,486.73 points, was trading at 22,466.41 points in the pre-noon session, down 18.52 points or 0.08 percent from the previous day’s close at 22,484.93 points.

The benchmark BSE Sensex recovered over 28 points in early trade today on emergence of buying by funds and retail investors amid a firming trend in global markets.

The 30-share index rose by 28.31 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 22,513.24 with sectoral indices, led by consumer durables, oil and gas, metal and healthcare, gaining up to 0.94 per cent.

The index had lost 230.40 points in the previous two sessions.

The National Stock Exchange index Nifty also gained 4.00 points, or 0.06 per cent, to trade at 6,737.10.

The Indian rupee weakened to 60.35 against a US dollar Tuesday tracking losses in stock markets on poor inflation and factory output data.

The partially convertible rupee was quoted at 60.31 against a dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange Markets here at 12.41 p.m., 14 paise weaker than its previous session’s close at 60.17.

India’s stock markets benchmark index Sensex fell 183 points Tuesday on profit taking in blue chips on disappointing inflation data.

The 30-scrip S&P Sensex (sensitive index) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened higher at 22,698.09 points, slumped to a low of 22,418.56 points in early afternoon, shortly after the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation data was announced.

The Sensex was trading at 22,446.01 points at 12.43 p.m., down 182.95 points, or 0.81 percent from its previous close at 22,628.96 points.

The benchmark BSE Sensex rose over 108 points in early trade today, following gains in IT stocks, after Infosys reported a better-than-expected rise of 24.9 per cent in Q4 net profit at Rs 2,992 crore.

However, disappointing IIP numbers released after market hours on Friday, limited the gain.

Besides, a mixed trend in the other Asian markets also influenced the trading sentiment here.

The Chinese yuan weakened 40 basis points to 6.1571 against the US dollar Tuesday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trading System.

In China’s foreign exchange spot market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day, reported Xinhua.

The central parity rate of the yuan against the US dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.

————–IANS

The mid-cap and small-cap indices on the BSE have outperformed their bigger counterparts this year, reversing the losing trend of 2013 mainly due to the participation of retail investors amid an overall bullish sentiment.

The BSE Small Cap index has advanced 14.83 per cent to 7,523.18 as of April 11, while the BSE Mid Cap index has gained 9.43 per cent to 7,338.46.

The benchmark 30-share BSE Sensex has risen 6.88 per cent to 22,628.96, after touching a record close of 22,715.33 on April 10.

India’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves increased by $2.97 billion to $306.64 billion for the week ended April 4, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed.

The forex reserves have soared past $300 billion mark for the first time since December 2011.

This is the sixth consecutive week of increase in the country’s forex reserves as overseas investors poured in money in local bonds and stock markets. The forex reserves had risen by $5.03 billion and $1.34 billion in the previous two weeks.

India’s industrial output contracted by 1.9 percent in February against a growth of 0.8 percent in the previous month due to a sharp drop in manufacturing production, government data showed Friday.

The industrial output, measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), had posted a sluggish growth of 0.8 percent in January.

The contraction in February production has dampened hopes of revival in the economy.

For the first 11 months of the fiscal ended March factory output stands at 0.1 percent, according to data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The BSE benchmark Sensex today fell from record levels by losing over 86 points as cautious investors booked profits ahead of inflation data and earning season amid a slide in global markets.

The Sensex dropped by 86.37 points, or 0.38 per cent, to close at 22,628.96. Yesterday the index had zoomed to all time high of 22,792.49 in day trade.

The broad-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange lost 20.10 points, or 0.30 per cent, to 6,776.30. It touched a low of 6,743.15 intra-day.

The Indian rupee fell to 60.34 against a dollar in early morning trade Friday, tracking losses in other Asian currencies and weak stock markets.

The partially convertible rupee opened weaker and fell to 60.34 against a dollar, 27 paise lower than its previous day’s close at 60.07.

The Indian currency Thursday strengthened by 7 paise.

The value of one US dollar was quoted at 60.26 rupee at the Interbank Foreign Exchange Markets here around 10.45 a.m. The currency touched a high of 60.21 in the intra-day.

The rupee today gained 7 paise to settle the day at 60.07 against the dollar which quoted lower in overseas markets on hints that the Fed Reserve may keep interest rates low.

Fresh selling of greenback by exporters and banks also aided the rupee to record gains, forex dealers said.

Pumping of cash by foreign funds in local equity markets too helped the rupee. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth USD 176.32 million yesterday, as per Sebi data, taking the total to nearly USD 1.15 billion this month so far.

The benchmark BSE Sensex climbed to a new record high of 22,769.20 in early trade today on sustained buying by funds and retail investors amid a firming trend in Asian markets.

The 30-share index, which had gained 358.89 points in the previous session, rose further by 66.86 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 22,769.20 points.

The wide-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange moved up by 14.40 points, or 0.21 per cent, to 6,810.60.

Brokers said continued buying by funds as well as retail investors, tracking a firming trend on the other Asian bourses, mainly buoyed the trading sentiment.