Metal shares in demand

Key benchmark indices were hovering near day's high in afternoon trade. At 13:17 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex advanced 329.92 points or 1% at 33,436.74. The Nifty 50 index surged 98.85 points or 0.97% at 10,313.60. Positive global cues boosted sentiment. Investor risk appetite also soared on reports that rating agency Moody's Investors Service has upgraded sovereign rating of India a notch above investment grade after a long gap of 14 years. Indices opened the session on a strong note and later held firm so far.

The Sensex surged 414 points or 1.25% at the day's high of 33,520.82 at the onset of trading, its highest level since 7 November 2017. The index rose 280.55 points or 0.84% at the day's low of 33,387.37 in early trade. The Nifty advanced 128.85 points or 1.26% at the day's high of 10,343.60 at the onset of trading, its highest level since 10 November 2017. The index rose 93.05 points or 0.91% at the day's low of 10,307.80 in early afternoon trade.

Among secondary indices, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index surged 1.18%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index advanced 1.15%. Both the indices outperformed the Sensex.

Closer home, the breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On BSE, 1,734 shares rose and 882 shares declined. A total of 162 shares were unchanged.

Axis Bank was up 0.54%. The bank announced during trading hours today, 17 November 2017, that it has decided to keep the marginal cost of funds based lending rates (MCLRs) unchanged across tenors. The 1-year MCLR stands unchanged at 8.25%.

Metal shares were in demand. Steel Authority of India (up 3.17%), Vedanta (up 3.15%), Hindustan Zinc (up 2.88%), Tata Steel (up 2.75%), Hindustan Copper (up 2.63%), Hindalco Industries (up 2.43%), JSW Steel (up 2.07%), National Aluminium Company (up 1.60%), NMDC (up 1.41%) and Jindal Steel & Power (up 0.24%), edged higher. Bhushan Steel was down 0.35%.

Meanwhile, copper price edged higher in the global commodities markets. High Grade Copper for December 2017 delivery was currently up 0.34% at $3.0585 per pound on the COMEX.

Pharmaceutical shares rose. Strides Shasun (up 2.78%), Wockhardt (up 1.82%), Divi's Laboratories (up 1.75%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (up 1.35%), Piramal Enterprises (up 1.20%), Cadila Healthcare (up 0.90%), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (up 0.87%), IPCA Laboratories (up 0.84%), Lupin (up 0.42%) and Aurobindo Pharma (up 0.27%), edged higher. Alkem Laboratories (down 0.36%), Dr Reddy's Laboratories (down 0.53%) and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (down 1.98%), edged lower.

Drug major Cipla advanced 2.97% after the company said it has received final approval for its abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for Budesonide Inhalation Suspension, 0.25mg/2ml, 0.5mg/2ml and 1mg/2ml from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market a generic version of Astrazeneca's Pulmicort Respules. The product is indicated for the maintenance treatment of asthma and as prophylactic therapy in children 12 months to 8 years of age. The product is available for shipping immediately, Cipla said. The announcement was made before market hours today, 17 November 2017.

Overseas, most Asian stocks edged higher as global equities appeared to bounce back after declines earlier in the week. US equities rose yesterday, 16 November 2017, rebounding from consecutive declines, following strong quarterly results.

On the macro front, rating agency Moody's Investors Service upgraded India's local and foreign currency issuer ratings to Baa2 from Baa3 and changed the outlook on the rating to stable from positive. Moody's has revised the sovereign rating of India a notch above investment grade after a long gap of 14 years, as per reports.

Among other key news, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, 16 November 2017, gave its approval for the creation of the posts of Chairman and Technical Members of the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) under GST, following up immediately on 15th November's sharp reduction in the GST rates of a large number of items of mass consumption. This paves the way for the immediate establishment of this apex body, which is mandated to ensure that the benefits of the reduction in GST rates on goods or services are passed on to the ultimate consumers by way of a reduction in prices, a press release issued by the government after market hours yesterday, 16 November 2017 said.

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