Sensex zooms 565 points on low chances of US rate hike

Mumbai, October 5: Lessened chances of a US rate hike, coupled with a strengthening rupee, cheered investors and led a barometer index of the Indian equity markets to gain over 565 points on Monday.

Other factors that pushed equity prices higher on Monday included stable Asian markets, continuation of the positive bias imbibed by last week’s monetary easing, and optimism surrounding a healthy earnings seasons due to lower commodities. The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (S&P Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange previously closed with gains of 66.12 points or 0.25 percent on Thursday. The Indian markets were closed on Friday, October 2 on the account of Gandhi Jayanti.

On Monday, an upward trajectory was also witnessed at the wider 50-scrip Nifty of the tiol Stock Exchange (NSE). It closed 168.40 points or 2.12 percent higher at 8,119.30 points.

The S&P BSE Sensex which opened at 26,379.42 points, closed at 26,785.55 points — 564.60 points or 2.15 percent up from the previous day’s close at 26,220.95 points. The Sensex touched a high of 26,822.42 points and a low of 26,375.31 points in the intra-day trade.

Market observers cited that lessened chances of a US rate hike in October due to a slowdown in the US jobs market had relieved investors and increased their risk taking appetite. “The lessened chances of a US rate hike, and the continuation of the positive momentum from the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) monetary easing led the prices higher and increased the risk appetite of the investors,” And James, co-head, technical research desk with Geojit BNP Paribas Fincial Services, told IANS.

“Bank Nifty traded with gains of over 2 percent on reports that the cabinet is likely likely to consider a proposal to recast Rs.4.3 lakh crore worth of loans of nine state power distribution companies.”

Last month, the US economy added just 142,000 jobs from 173,000 jobs created in August. The August figurers are being revised downwards. The jobs data is expected to deter the US Fed from raising rates. These were last raised rates in 2006.

“The September new jobs figure was below alyst expectations and the downward revision of the July and August month also impacted sentiment,” said Vaibhav Agrawal, vice president, research, Angel Broking, told IANS. “We expect the positive momentum to continue over the short term and expect the benchmarks to inch higher.” The US Fed will decide whether to raise interest rates during its Federal Open Market Committee meet scheduled for October 27-28. With higher interest rates in the US, the Foreign Portfolio Investors are expected to be led away from emerging markets such as India.

Besides the US, Asian markets too played a predomint factor in influencing the markets here. Expectations of a Japanese monetary and fiscal stimulus and up-tick in Chinese consumer sentiment stabilised the East Asian markets.

Japan’s Nikkei index was higher by 1.58 percent. The Chinese markets — Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index and Shanghai Composite Index — will remain closed till October 7, Wednesday, on account of the Chinese tiol Day. The rupee continued to gain strength on Monday. It gained 23 paise to close at 65.28 against a US dollar from its previous close of 65.51 against a greenback. It touched a day’s low of 65.14 against a US dollar. “Advance decline ratio favoured the bulls throughout the day. Banks, metals and autos led the rally, outperforming the headline index,” Nitasha Shankar, vice president, research with YES Securities, told IANS.

Sector-wise, all 12 components of the BSE closed higher. Banks, capital goods, automobile, consumer durables and metal stocks witnessed healthy buying. The S&P BSE banking index zoomed by 548.11 points, capital goods index augmented by 499.65 points, automobile index gained by 366.43 points, consumer durables index rose by 209.05 points and metal index was higher by 170 points.

Major Sensex gainers during Monday’s trade were: Tata Motors, up 6.13 percent at Rs.315.20; Tata Steel, up 5.82 percent at Rs.224.50; ICICI Bank, up 4.90 percent at Rs.280.45; Hindalco Industries, up 4.74 percent at Rs.74.05; and HDFC, up 4.73 percent at Rs.1,256.

The major Sensex losers were: Maruti Suzuki down 3.59 percent at Rs.4,415.45, Lupin, down 1.14 percent at Rs.2,083.10, Dr.Reddy’s Lab, down 1.13 percent at Rs.4,182.20, Hindustan Unilever, down 0.55 percent at Rs.810.10. (IANS)