Banks' strong nos lift Sensex 144 pts
BANGALORE: The benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex ended 0.8% higher in choppy trading on Monday as investors remained cautious ahead of the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) monetary policy review, but financials led the gains on better than-expected earnings. The expiry of monthly derivatives contracts later this week also added to the volatility in the market.
It is a wait-and-watch scenario in the market right now as investors wait for the central banks decision, said RK Gupta, managing director of Taurus Mutual Fund.
The RBI is expected to raise key rates by 25 basis points in its policy review on Tuesday. A bigger-than expected increase to tackle accelerating inflation could crimp economic growth and dampen investor sentiment.
The 30-share BSE index ended up 0.8%, or 143.8 points, at 19151.28, with 17 of its components advancing and one unchanged. It had briefly turned negative intra-day.
The market has discounted a 25-bp rate hike, but is worried it could be a 50-bp hike, said Ambareesh Baliga , senior vice-president at Karvy Stock broking. There is fear; nobody expects the market to move up, so more and more people are getting into cash, he added.
But, better-than-expected quarterly profit from Indias top lenders saw the sector index add 2.4% on Monday. SBI, which forecast 20-22% loan growth in fiscal 2012 due to strong credit demand, gained 3.7% to end at Rs 2,693.10, its highest close in almost three weeks.
Rival ICICI Bank gained 1.7% to Rs 1,083.90, after the No. 2 lender beat quarterly profit estimates on growing demand for credit and rising fee income, but climbing interest rates remained a worry for the sectors growth. Shares in Tata Steel added 3.1% after the steelmakers share sale was cover! ed more than six times.
Index heavyweight RIL was among the key losers, shedding 1.6%. The energy major reported its best quarterly profit late Friday.
The 50-share NSE index Nifty was up 0.8% at 5,743.25 points. World equities as measured by the MSCI All-Country World Index was down 0.1% by 1147 GMT, while the emerging markets index slipped 0.3%.
It is a wait-and-watch scenario in the market right now as investors wait for the central banks decision, said RK Gupta, managing director of Taurus Mutual Fund.
The RBI is expected to raise key rates by 25 basis points in its policy review on Tuesday. A bigger-than expected increase to tackle accelerating inflation could crimp economic growth and dampen investor sentiment.
The 30-share BSE index ended up 0.8%, or 143.8 points, at 19151.28, with 17 of its components advancing and one unchanged. It had briefly turned negative intra-day.
The market has discounted a 25-bp rate hike, but is worried it could be a 50-bp hike, said Ambareesh Baliga , senior vice-president at Karvy Stock broking. There is fear; nobody expects the market to move up, so more and more people are getting into cash, he added.
But, better-than-expected quarterly profit from Indias top lenders saw the sector index add 2.4% on Monday. SBI, which forecast 20-22% loan growth in fiscal 2012 due to strong credit demand, gained 3.7% to end at Rs 2,693.10, its highest close in almost three weeks.
Rival ICICI Bank gained 1.7% to Rs 1,083.90, after the No. 2 lender beat quarterly profit estimates on growing demand for credit and rising fee income, but climbing interest rates remained a worry for the sectors growth. Shares in Tata Steel added 3.1% after the steelmakers share sale was cover! ed more than six times.
Index heavyweight RIL was among the key losers, shedding 1.6%. The energy major reported its best quarterly profit late Friday.
The 50-share NSE index Nifty was up 0.8% at 5,743.25 points. World equities as measured by the MSCI All-Country World Index was down 0.1% by 1147 GMT, while the emerging markets index slipped 0.3%.
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