Market drifts higher in early trade

Key benchmark indices drifted higher in early trade led by index heavyweights HDFC and Reliance Industries (RIL). At 9:28 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 117.31 points or 0.45% at 26,467.48. The Nifty 50 index was currently up 32.60 points or 0.4% at 8,159.50.

Overseas, most Asian stocks rose ahead of key global events set to take place this week, including a meeting tomorrow, 30 November 2016 between the world's largest oil producers and the release of the US nonfarm payroll report on Friday, 2 December 2016. US stocks declined yesterday, 28 November 2016 for their worst performance in nearly a month, weighed down by a pullback in the financial and consumer discretionary sectors as some investors booked profits on the heels of a record-setting week.

Closer home, the breadth indicating the overall health of the market was strong. On BSE, 1,200 shares rose and 281 shares declined. A total of 45 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.74%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.93%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.

Tata Steel rose 1.85%. Tata Steel UK announced the signing of a letter of intent with Liberty House Group to enter into exclusive negotiations for the potential sale of its Speciality Steels business for an enterprise value of 100 million subject to due diligence and corporate approvals. The letter of intent covers several South Yorkshire-based assets including the Rotherham electric arc steelworks, the steel purifying facility in Stocksbridge and a mill in Brinsworth as well as service centres in Bolton and Wednesbury, UK, and in Suzhou and Xi'an, China. Speciality Steels employs about 1,700 people making steels for the aerospace, automotive and the oil & gas industries. The announcement was made after market hours today, 28 November 2016.

Tata Steel UK has invested 1.5 billion of capital over the last nine years. The company's boards consider the technical feasibility and economic returns of investments when taking decisions, as well as their affordability. The company is pursuing a transformation plan to create a sustainable future for its UK strip products business. The success of this plan is likely to influence decisions on future investments.

Separately, Tata Steel announced that the company at its meeting held on Friday, 25 November 2016, decided to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on 21 December 2016, pursuant to the special notice & requisition dated 10 November 2016, received from Tata Sons, promoter and principal shareholder of the company, holding 29.75% of the paid-up ordinary share capital of the company, to consider and if thought fit, to pass the resolutions viz. removal of C. P. Mistry as director of the company and removal of Nusli N. Wadia as director of the company. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 25 November 2016.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (Sun Pharma) gained 0.45% after the company announced the launch of BromSite (bromfenac ophthalmic solution) 0.075% in the US market. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) indicated for the treatment of postoperative inflammation and prevention of ocular pain in patients undergoing cataract surgery, BromSite will be marketed by Sun Ophthalmics, the company's branded ophthalmic business solution. BromSite is the first branded product launched by the company in the US, following its focus on specialty business. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 28 November 2016.

Mahanagar Gas advanced 4.26% after net profit rose 40.88% to Rs 102.24 crore on 3.11% decline in total income from operations to Rs 574.18 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 28 November 2016.

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