Broader market ends higher after RBI cuts interest rates

Key equity indices ended the volatile session on a flat note as profit booking emerged after gains in the past five consecutive sessions. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 4.14 points or 0.01% to 36,971.09, as per the provisional closing data. The Nifty 50 index rose 6.95 points or 0.06% to 11,069.40, as per the provisional closing data. The Sensex ended a tad below 37,000 mark after opening above that level.

Broader market, however, ended higher after the central bank cut key interest rates and shifted its policy stance to "neutral" from "calibrated tightening". Among secondary barometers, the BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.74%. The BSE Small-Cap index rose 0.81%.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On BSE, 1392 shares rose and 1158 shares fell. A total of 170 shares were unchanged. ss

Shares of interest rate sensitive automobile companies advanced after rate cut. Ashok Leyland (up 6.67%), Eicher Motors (up 3.27%), Bajaj Auto (up 3.12%), Tata Motors (up 2.67%), TVS Motor Company (up 2.6%), Hero MotoCorp (up 2.03%), Mahindra & Mahindra (up 1.49%) and Maruti Suzuki India (up 1%), edged higher. Escorts fell 0.13%.

Shares of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group companies tumbled. Reliance Infrastructure (down 29.81%), Reliance Power (down 21.96%), Reliance Capital (down 18.47%), Reliance Communications (down 6.2%), Reliance Naval and Engineering (down 4.62%) and Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management (down 1.89%), edged lower.

On the basis of an assessment of the current and evolving macroeconomic situation at its meeting today, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to reduce the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points from 6.5% to 6.25% with immediate effect. Consequently, the reverse repo rate under the LAF stands adjusted to 6.0%, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 6.5%.

The MPC also decided to change the monetary policy stance from calibrated tightening to neutral. These decisions are in consonance with the objective of achieving the medium-term target for consumer price index (CPI) inflation of 4% within a band of +/- 2%, while supporting growth.

On the economic front, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved establishment of a unified authority for regulating all financial services in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) in India through International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019. The first IFSC in India has been set up at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Overseas, most European stocks were trading lower Thursday, as market participants monitored the latest flurry of corporate results. Market focus is largely attuned to global trade developments, with officials from the world's two largest economies reportedly poised to meet for a fresh round of talks next week.

Stocks in Asia traded mixed on Thursday, while US-China trade hopes are up as negotiations are set to continue.

US stocks closed lower Wednesday, with the S&P 500 snapping a five-day winning streak, after President Donald Trump's State of the Union address offered few details on his economic agenda. The president, however, insisted China commit to real, structural economic reforms before a trade deal can be reached.

On the data front, US manufacturing productivity rose 1.3% in the fourth quarter, up from 1.1% growth in the third quarter, the Labor Department reported. The US trade deficit in November fell to $49.3 billion, below the October level of $55.5 billion in October.

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