Axis Bank jumps over 26% in three sessions

Axis Bank jumped 6.42% to Rs 1,014.60 at 12:20 IST on BSE, extending recent gains triggered by the central bank withdrawing restrictions placed on the purchase of the bank's shares by foreign investors.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) made the announcement after market hours on Wednesday, 4 September 2013. Axis Bank shares surged 15.63% to Rs 927.45 on Thursday, 5 September 2013. The stock has risen 26.50% in three trading sessions from Rs 802.05 on 4 September 2013.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 492.99 points, or 2.56%, to 19,763.05.

On BSE, 3.68 lakh shares were traded in the counter compared with average volume of 3.19 lakh shares in the past one quarter.

The stock hit a high of Rs 1,024.90 and a low of Rs 977 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 764 on Wednesday, 4 September 2013. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,549 on 20 May 2013.

The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 6 September 2013, sliding 12.53% compared with the Sensex's 2.87% rise. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, falling 32.79% as against Sensex's 1.28% fall.

The large-cap bank has an equity capital of Rs 469.08 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday, 4 September 2013, lifted restrictions placed on foreign institutional investors (FIIs) buying shares in Axis Bank as the overall foreign share holding fell below the prescribed limit of 49%.

Foreign share holding in Axis Bank under the portfolio investment scheme have gone below the prescribed threshold limit stipulated under the extant FDI Policy, the RBI said in a statement.

Hence, the restrictions placed on the purchase of shares of Axis Bank are withdrawn with immediate effect, the central bank said.

Total foreign holding in Axis Bank was 48.96% as at 30 June 2013, of which 40.70% was held by FIIs.

Axis Bank clarified to the stock exchanges on Thursday, 5 September 2013, that its total direct and indirect exposure to the National Spot Exchange (NSEL) was insignificant. The bank also said that it had adequate collateral to back its exposure to NSEL. Axis Bank issued the clarification amid media reports that it and two other private sector banks viz. ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank have the highest exposure to NSEL.

NSEL, promoted by Jignesh Shah-led Financial Technologies (India), is facing the problem of settling Rs 5600 crore dues to 148 members/brokers, representing 13,000 investor clients, after it suspended trade on July 31 on the government direction.

Axis Bank's net profit jumped 22.14% to Rs 1408.93 crore on 15.87% increase in total income to Rs 9059.12 crore in Q1 June 2013 over Q1 June 2012.

Axis Bank is the third largest private sector bank in India. It has a large footprint of 1947 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 11,245 ATMs spread across the country as on 31 March 2013. The bank also has overseas offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Colombo, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News