MARKET WRAP: Sensex surges 1,266 pts, Nifty ends at 9,112; auto stocks jump

All that happened in the markets today.

4:06 PM

MARKET COMMENT | Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services

Indian markets in sync with Global markets were up again today on expectations of infections peaking out and for more stimulus measures to be announced. This uptrend seems to be a short term bear market rally and may not be sustainable. In India, there is speculation that the package may help worst affected sectors and MSMEs may get some relief in the package to be announced.

4:06 PM

SECTOR WATCH | Here's how sectoral indices on NSE performed today

4:05 PM

MARKET AT CLOSE | Top gainers and losers on the S&P BSE Sensex

3:41 PM

CLOSING BELL

The S&P BSE Sensex rallied 1,266 points or 4.23 per cent to close at 31,160 while NSE's Nifty50 ended at 9,103, up 354 points or 4 per cent.

3:28 PM

NEWS ALERT | CRISIL reaffirmed its ratings on the debt programmes and bank facilities of M&M; stock surges 20%

3:27 PM

MARKET CHECK

3:26 PM

MARKET COMMENT :: Sanjeev Zarbade, VP PCG Research, Kotak Securities

The Sensex is poised to close this holiday shortened week with a strong uptick as global markets bounced back on initial signs of peaking out of Covid-19 infections in major hotspots like Italy and the US. While the trajectory of Covid-19 infections in India is now getting steeper, it is hoped that the effect of lockdown will start to show positive results in the coming days.

With the exception of the FMCG sector, valuations have become reasonable for most sectors. Investors should accumulate stocks with strong balance sheets, market leadership and good management quality. Such stocks can deliver good returns when economic conditions normalise

3:20 PM

BUZZING STOCK | Titan Co jumps 10%

3:10 PM

MARKET UPDATE | Midcap index gains around 4%

3:02 PM

ALERT :: MARKETS TO REMAIN SHUT TOMORROW ON ACCOUNT OF GOOD FRIDAY

2:59 PM

Petrol, diesel demand slumps 66%; ATF down 90% as lockdown hurts business

In April 2019, India had consumed 2.4 million tonnes of petrol and 7.3 million tonnes of diesel. As much as 6,45,000 tonnes of ATF was used during the same time last year.

 

The collapse of demand in the world's third-biggest consumer during April comes on the back of worst fuel sales in more than a decade recorded in March 2020. READ MORE

2:58 PM

Telecom stocks gain

COMPANY	LATEST(rs)	CHG(%)
VODAFONE IDEA	3.28	2.50
BHARTI AIRTEL	482.60	4.55
TEJAS NETWORKS	35.40	4.89

2:49 PM

IT industry is resilient and will emerge stronger: Infosys COO

These are challenging times for the Indian information technology (IT) industry. However, the industry has time and again proven its resilience. We hope to emerge stronger. The immediate priority is navigating through the Covid-19 situation and ensuring business continuity. After Covid, I hope to continue the growth rate we’ve been doing, of taking forward the industry and making it relevant in the digital era, including expanding our market presence, skilling and reskilling workforce, and contributing to India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth. READ FULL INTERVIEW HERE

Nasscom's newly appointed chairman and Infosys Chief Operating Officer U B Pravin Rao

2:44 PM

BROKERAGE VIEW:: Prabhudas Lilladher on Cement sector

Admittedly, Covid-19 virus has derailed sector’s FY20-FY22e earnings, due to sharp fall in volumes. However, better pricing power would help lessen the impact of depressed volumes unlike other sectors. Downgrade in FY21e earnings and fall in stock prices have broadly been in tandem however, fall have been far significant relative to earnings cut on FY22e nos. To factor earnings cut, we have reduced price targets of our coverage universe by 15- 20%. We upgrade Ambuja cement (ACEM)/ACC to BUY while Ramco cement (TRCL)/Heidelberg cement (HEIM) are upgraded to Accumulate on account of comfortable valuations. Shree cement remains our least preferred name in the space with Hold rating due to expensive valuations. We reiterate BUY on Ultratech cement (UTCEM) and JKLakshmi (JKLC)

2:41 PM

Coronavirus lockdown: Rs 1-trn stimulus package for MSMEs on cards

“The second package could be focused largely on MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises),” one of the senior government officials, with direct knowledge of the plan told Reuters.

 

The official said a separate package could be announced for bigger companies after assessing the extent of the hit they have faced due to the lockdown imposed to fight the outbreak. READ MORE

2:40 PM

Heatmap: S&P BSE Sensex at this hour

2:30 PM

Covid-19: India FY21 growth projection down 20 bps to 4.8%, says UN report

India's GDP growth for the fiscal year 2019-2020 was estimated at 5 per cent and is forecast to slow down to 4.8 per cent for the current fiscal 2020-21.

 

Economic growth for the country could stand at 5.1 per cent for fiscal year 2021-22, the report said. It also noted that these are very preliminary forecasts based on the data and information available up to March 10. READ MORE

2:25 PM

SECTOR WATCH:: Auto stocks in focus; Nifty Auto index jumps over 8%

2:18 PM

Top BSE500 gainers today

COMPANY	PRICE(rs)	CHG(%)
ASHOKA BUILDCON	51.30	20.00
REDINGTON INDIA	83.85	15.98
RAIN INDUSTRIES	68.25	14.80
R C F	35.35	14.22
SCHNEIDER ELECT.	78.35	14.21

2:17 PM

Coronavirus outbreak has set back the number of air travellers by decades

The official tally of 97,130 people who passed through TSA checkpoints includes some airline crew members and people who are still working at shops inside airport security perimeters.

 

The last time the nation averaged 97,000 passengers a day was in 1954, according to figures from trade group Airlines for America. It was the dawn of the jet age. The de Havilland Comet, the first commercial jetliner, was just a few years old, and Boeing was running test flights with the jet that would become the iconic 707. READ MORE

2:16 PM

BUZZING STOCK | Cholamandalam Investment up around 14%

2:06 PM

Rupee closing

Rupee ends higher at 76.28/$ vs Wednesday's close of 76.37 against the US dollar

2:02 PM

Sun Pharma regains Rs 1 trillion m-cap after surging 38% in four days

Shares of Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries were trading higher for the fourth straight day, up 8.5 per cent to Rs 474 on the BSE on Thursday on expectation of improvement in the company's outlook. The drug firm's stock was trading close to its 52-week high of Rs 480, touched on April 10, 2019. In the past four days, it has rallied 38 per cent, as compared to 10 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex and 23 per cent up move in S&P BSE Healthcare index. READ MORE

1:58 PM

NEWS ALERT | JSPL promoter release pledge on 69.1 lakh shares (0.7% equity) on April 8: CNBC TV18

1:52 PM

MARKET CHECK | Top 5 losers on the BSE at this hour

1:52 PM

Covid-19: Odisha becomes the first state to extend lockdown till April 30

The Odisha government on Thursday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown in the state till April 30 to effectively contain the spread of coronavirus. Schools and other education institutions will remain closed till June 17, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced after a video conference with his ministers. READ MORE

1:50 PM

FMCG to remain pricey for a long time despite coronavirus outbreak

However, the sector is still trading at 115 per cent premium to the leading indices such as Nifty50. In fact, over the last month, the Nifty FMCG index, which has been flat, has outperformed the Nifty50's over 20 per cent fall during the same period.. At these levels, the price-to-earnings (PE) valuation of the FMCG index at almost 29x is among the highest within sectoral indices. And, if analysts are to be believed, FMCG’s valuation premium vis-à-vis leading indices would persist in the near term despite muted economic activities. READ MORE

1:37 PM

MARCH MUTUAL FUND DATA: Net equity inflow at Rs 11,961 cr vs 10,730 cr inflow (MoM)

-- Balanced fund outflow at Rs 1,515.6 cr vs Rs 1,182 cr outflow (MoM)

1:37 PM

Covid-19 hangs over future like spectre: RBI in Monetary Policy Report

The impact of the pandemic came at a time when the economy was just at the turn of a recovery, “but Covid-19 now “hangs over the future, like a spectre,” it said. “While efforts are being mounted on a war footing to arrest its spread, Covid-19 would impact economic activity in India directly through domestic lockdown.” READ MORE

1:27 PM

Europe opens higher

(Source: Reuters)