Global cues, bankruptcy code cheer markets, Sensex up 260 points

Mumbai, Dec 23: Positive global cues, coupled with the government’s efforts to build consensus on the bankruptcy bill and healthy domestic macro-data, cheered the Indian equity markets on Wednesday. This led a barometer index to gain 260 points during the day’s trade. Both the bellwether indices of the Indian equity markets traded at their highest levels in nearly three weeks. Initially, both the bellwether indices opened on a positive note in sync with their Asian peers.

Besides Asian markets, Tuesday’s rally in the US stocks, after a key macro-economic data indicated healthy growth in the world’s largest economy, cheered investors’ here. Even the domestic macro economic data which showed a rrowing of current account deficit (CAD) for quarter ended September 30, 2015, improved sentiments. In addition, government’s efforts to build a consensus to pass the crucial bankruptcy bill restored investors’ confidence.

Furthermore, the bill has been referred to a joint parliamentary committee which will iron out any differences on the legislation before the budget session which is slated for February.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) closed higher by 260 points in the day’s trade. Similarly, the wider 50-scrip Nifty of the tiol Stock Exchange (NSE) made gains. It rose by 79.85 points or 1.03 percent at 7,865.95 points.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,697.66 points, closed at 25,850.30 points — up 259.65 points or 1.01 percent from the previous day’s close at 25,590.65 points. The Sensex touched a high of 25,875.27 points and a low of 25,689.70 points during the intra-day trade. The Sensex had closed the previous session on Tuesday, down 145.25 points or 0.56 percent, while the Nifty ended lower by 48.35 points or 0.62 percent. “Positive close of the US markets on Tuesday arrested the falls in the Indian markets. Short-coverings were also observed,” And James, co-head, technical research desk with Geojit BNP Paribas Fincial Services, told IANS. “The decisive action on the bankruptcy bill by sending it to a joint parliamentary committee added more legs to the morning’s upward movement.”

Nitasha Shankar, vice president for research with YES Securities pointed out that headline index Nifty continues to oscillate in a rrow range amidst thin volumes suggesting consolidation. “Broader markets ended in the green although underperforming the headline index. All major sectors ended in the green with handsome gains of one percent and higher,” Shankar told IANS. “Market breadth also favoured the bulls throughout the day with 1,504 advances and 1,160 declines.” The Indian rupee, too, gained during the day’s trade to touch its highest level in over a month’s time. It strengthened by 12 paise to close at 66.21 to a US dollar from its previous close of 66.33 to a greenback.

Both, the foreign and domestic institutiol investors were net buyers in the day’s trade. According to data with stock exchanges, FIIs invested about Rs.385.82 crore, while DIIs bought stocks worth Rs.632.64 crore. Sector-wise, healthy buying was witnessed in healthcare, banking, capital goods, oil and gas and metal stocks. The S&P BSE healthcare index augmented by 227.42 points, banking index gained by 158.98 points, capital goods index increased by 158.85 points, oil and gas index rose by 136.21 points and metal index was higher by 134.83 points.

Major Sensex gainers during Wednesday’s trade were Gail, up 5.82 percent at Rs.358.25; BHEL, up 3.58 percent at Rs.172.10; Sun Pharma, up 3.52 percent at Rs.791.05; Bharti Airtel, up 2.77 percent at Rs.332.15; and Tata Steel, up 2.53 percent at Rs.263.70. The major Sensex losers were Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M), down 0.45 percent at Rs.1,252.85; Adani Ports, down 0.21 percent at Rs.257.15; Asian Paints, down 0.18 percent at Rs.878.10; and Bajaj Auto, down 0.02 percent at Rs.2,475.60. (IANS)