Markets closed on account of Muharram

Trading segments including Indian equity, forex, money and commodity markets are shut today on account of Muharram.

 

On Monday, the benchmark Sensex lost 5 points, or 0.02%  to end at 27,860. However, the 50-share National Stock Exchange Nifty added 2 points, or 0.02%, to close at 8,324. 

 

On the other hand, the broader markets continued to hold investor interest. The mid and smallcap indices were up well over 1% each, outperforming the BSE benchmark index which was down 0.1%. 

 

Among macro economic data, factory activity expanded at a modest pace in October, as stronger demand led manufacturers to add jobs for the first time in four months and allowed them to raise prices, a business survey showed on Monday.

 

Further, the HSBC Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by Markit, rose to 51.6 in October from 51.0 in September. The index has now been above the 50 level that indicates an expansion in activity for a year.

 

Foreign funds were net buyers in equities to the tune of Rs 1,413.34 crore on Monday, as per provisional stock exchange data.

 

Global Markets: 

 

Asian stocks dipped in early trade on Tuesday with disappointing Chinese data and a Wall Street slip dampening the mood, although Japan rose sharply on follow-through momentum generated the Bank of Japan's surprise monetary easing last week.

 

Japan's Nikkei share average  was up 4% and Hand Seng and Shanghai Composite gained between 0.13-1.2%. However, Straits Times was trading flat with a negative bias.

 

U.S. stocks declined on Monday as investors applauded an upbeat factory gauge and sold energy companies on concerns that oil prices will stay low for the foreseeable future. 

 

At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow 30 dropped 0.14%, the S&P 500 index lost 0.01%, while the NASDAQ Composite index gained 0.18%.