Financials

Facebook”s stock price reportedly dropped in after-hours trading after the social networking giant announced its latest acquisition of visual reality startup Oculus Rift.

The stock went under its open price of 64.25 dollars, resulting in a loss of 1.5 – 1.8 billion dollars market cap.

According to Tech Crunch, the company announced that it was going to purchase Oculus Rift for 2 billion dollars in cash and stock, in a bid to make the world more open and connected.

The benchmark BSE Sensex soared to a record-high of 22,162.52 in opening trade on Wednesday on the back of a strong rally in metal, realty and banking sector stocks amid sustained capital inflows and strengthening rupee.

The 30-share Sensex shot up by 107.31 points, or 0.48 %, to 22,162.52, surpassing its previous intra-day record high of 22,079.96 reached in yesterday’s trade.

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat at 42.01 points or 0.19 percent down during the pre-noon session Tuesday.

Good buying was observed in the consumer durables and capital goods sectors while heavy selling pressure was seen in oil and gas sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 21,948.31 points, was trading at 22,013.47 points in the pre-noon session, down 42.01 points or 0.19 percent from the previous day’s close at 22,055.48 points.

The benchmark BSE Sensex slipped from record high by falling over 50 points in early trade today as RIL and ONGC plunged after the Election Commission asked the government to defer till the polls the doubling of natural gas prices.

The 30-share Sensex fell by 50.34 points, or 0.23 per cent, to trade at 22,005.14. It soared to an all-time intra-day lifetime high of 22,074.34 in yesterday’s trade.

The 50-share NSE Nifty, which climbed to hit record high of 6,591.50 in the previous session, fell 6.10 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 6,577.40.

Indian benchmark indices made a stellar start to the week with Sensex and Nifty today logging new lifetime highs, boosted by FII buying in banking shares on hopes the RBI will hold rates in the upcoming policy review.

Hectic activity in select sectors ahead of the expiry of March derivative contracts on Thursday also helped domestic markets shrug off weak Chinese data, say traders.

Continuing its record-setting spree, the benchmark Sensex today hit a new lifetime high and gained 300 points to end above 22,000-level for the first time as foreign funds bought bluechips led by interest-rate sensitive shares on hopes RBI will hold rates in its upcoming review.

The BSE Sensex climbed to hit a new intra-day peak of 22,074.34 on the back fo heavy buying. It also ended at a record closing of 22,055.48, up 300.16 points, or 1.38 per cent. Its previous closing peak was 21,934.83 on March 10 while its intra-day peak was 22,040.72 set on March 18, 2014.

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets surged 252.96 points or 1.16 percent during the pre-noon session Monday.

Good buying was observed in the banking, oil and gas and auto sectors, while marginal selling pressure was seen in the healthcare sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 21,827.50 points, was trading at 22,008.28 points in the pre-noon session, up 252.96 points or 1.16 percent from the previous day’s close at 21,755.32 points.

The benchmark BSE Sensex today hit a new lifetime intra-day high of 22,046.58 in late morning trade amid a rally in banking, PSUs and oil & gas sector stocks, driven by sustained capital inflows.

The 50-share NSE Nifty also gained 86 points, or 1.32 per cent, to touch a new record high of 6,580.90.

The 30-share Sensex shot up by 291.26 points, or 1.33 per cent, to 22,046.58, surpassing its previous intra-day record high of 22,040.72 reached on March 18.

Brokers said sustained capital inflows by foreign funds at the domestic bourses helped the key indices to touch new highs.

The benchmark BSE Sensex gained over 124 points in early trade today on sustained buying by funds and retailers amid a firming trend in other Asian markets.

The 30-share barometer, which had gained 15.23 points in the previous two sessions, shot up by 124.18 points, or 0.57 per cent, to 21,879.50.

All the sectoral indices, led by PSUs, banking and metals, were trading in the positive zone with gains up to 1.08 per cent.

On similar lines, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 33.95 points, or 0.52 per cent, to 6,528.85.

The Chinese yuan strengthened 23 basis points to 6.1452 against the US dollar Monday, 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

Stocks: The benchmark BSE S&P Sensex came off its all-time intra-day high of 22,040.72 logged on Tuesday, and closed down for the second week in a row in a range-bound trade during the extended week.

The index lost over 54 points to end at 21,755.32 on Saturday.

The BSE and NSE were closed on March 17 on account of “Holi”. Both the exchanges conducted a special live trading session today to enable the NSE to test its software. The trading took place from 11.15 am to 12.45 pm.

he BSE benchmark index Sensex today opened over 25 points lower in the special 90-minute trading session, as funds and retail investors booked profits after yesterday’s gains amid absence of cues from the global markets.

The 30-share index, which has gained a moderate 13.66 points in the previous session, declined by 25.09 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 21,728.66 with oil and gas, PSUs and healthcare sectoral indices leading the fall.

In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty was down 7.75 points, or 0.12 per cent, at 6,485.45.

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Friday closed flat – up 14 points or 0.06 percent – as oil and gas, healthcare stocks fell.

The 30-scrip S&P Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 21,823.52 points, closed at 21,740.09 points (provisionally) — up 13.66 points or 0.06 percent from its previous day’s close at 21,740.09 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 21,870.11 points and a low of 21,729.90 points intra-day.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade 10.10 points (provisionally) or 0.16 percent up at 6,493.20 points.

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets ended Friday’s trade flat – up 14 points, as oil and gas and healthcare stocks fell.

The 30-scrip S&P Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 21,823.52 points, (provisionally) closed at 21,740.09 points, up 13.66 points or 0.06 percent from its previous day’s close at 21,740.09 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 21,870.11 points and a low of 21,729.90 points intra-day.The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade 10.10 points (provisionally) or 0.16 percent up at 6,493.20 points.

The BSE benchmark Sensex today recovered by over 130 points in early trade on emergence of buying by funds and retail investors amid a firming trend in the global markets.

Besides, covering-up of short positions by speculators in some stocks also helped trading sentiments to improve.

The 30-share index rose by 130.02 points, or 0.59 per cent, to 21,870.11, with all the sectoral indices led by realty and capital goods were trading in positive zone, rising up to 0.97 per cent. The index had lost 92.77 points in the previous session.

The Sensex and the Nifty today closed at their weakest level in two weeks in line with a slump in global equity markets after US Federal Reserve signalled it would raise interest rates by the middle of 2015.

The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex snapped its three-day gaining string and dropped 93 points to close at 21,740.09 — the lowest close since 21,513.87 on March 6. HDFC and L&T led the 22 losers in the 30-share index.

Snapping its three-session rising streak, the BSE benchmark Sensex today fell over 86 points in early trade on selling by funds and retailers amid a weak trend in the global markets.

The 30-share barometer fell by 86.44 points, or 0.39 per cent, to 21,746.42 with stocks of banking, PSUs, capital goods, power, oil and gas and realty sectors leading the fall. The index had gained 58.25 points in the previous three sessions.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index, Nifty dipped below 6,500 level by falling 26.15 points, or 0.40 per cent, to 6,497.90.

The BSE benchmark index Sensex gained 60 points in opening trade today on sustained fund inflows.

The 30-share index rose by 60.81 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 21,893.42 points with power, banking, oil and gas, healthcare and metal stocks posting gains in early trade.

The 50-share NSE Nifty was also higher by 18.10 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 6,534.75 in opening trade.

Brokers said buying activity picked up as foreign funds and retail investors engaged in enlarging their positions in fundamentally-strong stocks.

Led by strong buying support from foreign funds, a benchmark index of the Indian equities markets was trading flat Tuesday after it touched a new record high of 22,040.72 points.

The 30-scrip S&P Sensex (sensitive index) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was trading flat – up 11.75 points or 0.05 percent around 2.19 p.m. – after it soared 144.47 points or 0.66 percent in pre-noon trade to a record intra-day high of 22,040.72 points.

This record high surpassed the previous mark of 22,023.98 hit on March 10.

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets soared 144.47 points or 0.66 percent in pre-noon trade Tuesday to touch a new high of 22,040.72 points.

This record high surpassed the previous high-mark of 22,023.98 hit on March 10.

The rally was led by banking, oil and gas, metal and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 21,849.65 points, was trading at 21,954.27 points in the pre-noon session, up 144.47 points or 0.66 percent from the previous day’s close at 21,809.80 points.

Gold has had its best yearly start in almost three decades. The yellow metal has rallied from price levels of just under $1,200 per ounce to about $1,390 per ounce which was the intra-day high in Comex gold futures in Monday’s trading session in the US. But the rally now seems short-lived.

Although the US Federal Reserve has maintained its stance on tapering its monthly purchases of bonds and mortgage backed securities to the extent of $10 billion a month, the “fear trade” has been providing upside to gold prices despite the sucking out of cheap liquidity out of the financial system.

For the first time in its over two centuries of history, the nation’s largest lender State Bank of India, which had reported 5.73 per cent of its assets as bad loans in the December quarter, is going all out to stem the rot by offloading around Rs 5,000 crore of its Rs 67,799 crore dud assets to ARCs before the end of the month.

The move comes ahead of the tighter provisioning norms kicking in from next April, which the central bank had in May last year announced when it had more than doubled the provisioning for restructured loans to 5 from 2 per cent.

Alibaba has reportedly said that it is yet to decide on the investment banks or stock exchange for its initial public offerings (IPO). The Chinese e-commerce giant would not provide a timetable for its IPO, according to an unnamed PR official at Alibaba, China Daily reported. Meanwhile, the response comes in the wake of media reports claiming Alibaba had decided on New York after ruling out Hong Kong and London for the IPO. (ANI)

Stocks: Even as the BSE benchmark Sensex breached 22K level during the week for the first time in the history, it snapped 3-week of gaining string, tumbling by 110 points to end at 21,809.80 due to profit booking following tightening of norms by Sebi.

The Sensex breached the 22,000 mark for the first time on Monday on the back of continued overseas investor interest linked to upcoming polls.

The NSE 50-shares Nifty also touched a new intra-day peak of 6,562.20 during the week surpassing previous lifetime peak of 6,537.80 hit on last Friday.

The BSE benchmark Sensex today erased early losses to close 35 points higher at 21,809.80 on fag-end value buying in select, blue-chip stocks available at attractive levels, amid WPI inflation easing to nine-month low of 4.68 per cent in February.

Asian and European indices were weak as investor fears that China is entering a deeper slowdown were heightened after data showed Chinese industrial production and retail sales grew slower than analysts expected.

A referendum in Crimea over its bid to break away from Ukraine and join Russia also added to investory jittery.