Markets have an upbeat closing

The markets snapped their three-day losing streak due to buying in index heavyweights and a rebound in IT stocks

The markets resumed their election-led euphoria, after the brief interlude in the past three trading sessions, led by secular buying in index heavyweights and a rebound in the hitherto-beaten IT stocks. The Sensex ended at 22,626, stronger by 350 points and the Nifty managed to reclaim its crucial psychological level of 6700, at 6779, up 104 points. The broader markets also had a cheerful day, with the midcap index rallying by 1.3% at 7328 and the smallcap index gaining 1.3% at 7516. 

 

The statement by global credit rating agency Standard & Poor's that it may upgrade India's rating outlook if the government that is elected next month addresses some of the country's fiscal and economic challenges through steps such as passing a goods and services tax, may have contributed to the optimism. 

 

The markets had a weak session on Wednesday to make it three-in-a-row and mark their lowest close in 2-1/2 weeks as IT, realty and infrastructure stocks succumbed to profit taking. The day's market proceedings had started on a tentative note, possibly a result of the overhang of the previous session's decline. But gains in Asian stocks and an overnight rally in US stocks seemed to have underpinned sentiment on the domestic bourses through the course of the day. 

 

The Asian shares crept higher on Thursday after the US industrial production increased more than forecast in March and dovish comments from the head of the US Federal Reserve lifted Wall Street. Key benchmark indices in China, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Taiwan were up 0.01% to 0.49%. However, European stocks dipped in early trades as disappointing earnings from US tech heavyweights Google and IBM dampened the previous session's upbeat tone on Wall Street, and the dollar weakened on dovish remarks from the Federal Reserve. 

 

The stock market has a long weekend ahead as the markets are closed on April 18 due to Good Friday.

 

Hindalco shone bright with gains of 4.4% at Rs 141 to top the gainer's charts on the BSE. The high-beta auto and banking counters also saw a lot of action. 

 

In the auto pack, Tata Motors zoomed by 4.2% at Rs 428, Hero MotoCorp vroomed by 2.2% at Rs 2217 and M&M raced ahead by 2.2% at Rs 997. 

 

In the banking space, ICICI Bank sky-rocketed by 3.2% at Rs 1262, SBI roared by 2.9% at Rs 2017 and Axis Bank jumped by 2.3% at Rs 1464.

 

In the broader stock universe, HCL Technologies ended 1% higher at 1,424 on the BSE after the company reported a better-than-expected 8.5% sequential growth in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,624 crore for the third quarter ended March 31, 2014 (Q3), helped by increasing demand for outsourcing services. The Noida-based firm had posted a net profit of Rs 1,021 crore in the corresponding quarter of last fiscal (2012-13).

Mindtree gained nearly 5% at Rs 1,445 after the board recommended a total dividend of 150% or Rs 15 per equity share of par value Rs 10 each, include a special dividend of 50% for completion of 15 years in business. The mid-tier IT company also posted a healthy 24% growth in consolidated net profit to Rs 98 crore for the quarter ended March 2014 (Q4). The company had reported profit of Rs 79 crore in the same quarter last fiscal.
 

NCC zoomed by 2% at Rs 46 on talk that the company plans to sell select highway assets with a view to reduce its debt.
 

Hindustan Construction Company firmed up by 5.3% at Rs 19 after the company said it has been awarded a Rs 300 crore contract by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
 

The shares of tyre companies were on a roll, racing ahead by upto 8%, accompanied by heavy volumes, on expectations of higher revenue growth during the current fiscal. Apollo Tyres, Ceat, Goodyear India, JK Tyre Industries, Balkrishna Industries and TVS Srichakra are up 4-17% each on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

 

On the other hand, HDFC Bank shed 1% at Rs 719 in an otherwise firm market on reports that MSCI has further reduced the weightage of the bank in MSCI India Index. MSCI has cut the weightage as foreign shareholding in HDFC Bank has exceeded the permissible limit. 

 

The market breadth was strong. Out of 2730 stocks traded on the BSE, there were 1539  advancing stocks as against 1052 declines.