Value Buying Pulls Key Indices Higher by 2 Percent

MUMBAI: Despite negative global markets, the Indian stock indices surged by over two per cent on Monday, as value buying, along with an official announcement on fresh liquidity infusion in the debt market, uplifted investors’ sentiments.

According to market observers, value buying emerged after a correction which dragged both the S&P BSE Sensex and the Nifty50 to their respective seven-month lows on last Friday. On the liquidity front, the Reserve Bank of India’s announcement on a fresh bond-buying programme in November to inject funds into the debt market soothed investors’ nerves, especially after caution prevailed over an impending credit crunch.

However, negative global markets and outflows of foreign funds capped gains. Index-wise, the NSE Nifty50 settled higher by 220.85 points, or 2.20 per cent at 10,250.85 points. Similarly, the S&P BSE Sensex made substantial gains. It opened at 33,549.88 points and closed higher by 718.09 points, or 2.15 per cent, at 34,067.40 points.

The Sensex swung over 800 points, touching a high of 34,154.60 points and a low of 33,341.80. “Stock markets in India witnessed a relief rally today as key benchmark indices surged in opening trade and sustained the momentum through the day,” said Abhijeet Dey, Senior Fund Manager-Equities, BNP Paribas Mutual Fund.

"Overseas, Asian markets declined while European markets traded firm as investors tracked a number of political events and waited for further earnings reports."

HDFC Securities' Retail Research Head Deepak Jasani said: "Technically, with the Nifty bouncing back, traders will need to watch if the recent rally can sustain and reverse the current downtrend."

"Further upsides are likely once the immediate resistances of 10,274 points are taken out. Crucial supports to watch for any weakness are at 10,150 points," he added.

In terms of investments, the week began with the continued trend of massive outflow of funds witnessed throughout October, as provisional data with the exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors sold stocks worth Rs 2,230.79 crore.

Domestic institutional investors bought scrip worth Rs 2,526.90 crore. As per data provided by the National Securities Depository (NSDL), the monthly outflow of foreign funds at Rs 38,797 crore from the equity segment was at its highest since 2002, while on a yearly basis, the outflow in the current year comes second just to the levels seen in 2008 when the foreign investors withdrew Rs 51,252 crore.

Nevertheless, the domestic currency closed nearly flat at Rs 73.44 to a dollar from its Friday's close of 73.46. Brent crude, the benchmark oil price, was trading around $77.49 a barrel. Top gainers on the Sensex was dominated by banking stocks, out of which ICICI Bank gained the most days after it reported a 55.84 per cent year-on-year decline in its standalone net profit for the quarter ended in September 30. (IANS)