Pharma shares in demand

Key benchmark indices held firm at higher levels in afternoon trade. At 13:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 190.09 points or 0.56% at 34,343.94. The Nifty 50 index rose 53.80 points or 0.51% at 10,612.65. Positive global cues boosted investors sentiment.

Key benchmark indices had opened the session on a strong note with the Sensex and the Nifty hitting record highs in early trade, tracking firmness in Asian markets and strong finish on Wall Street overnight. Indices hit fresh record highs in mid-morning trade and later hovered with modest gains so far.

Among secondary indices, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.90%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index advanced 0.97%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On the BSE, 1,816 shares advanced and 1,032 shares declined. A total of 128 shares were unchanged.

Pharmaceuticals shares were in demand. Wockhardt (up 6.79%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (up 2.83%), Lupin (up 2.26%), Piramal Enterprises (up 2.13%), Cadila Healthcare (up 2.08%), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (up 1.81%), Divi's Laboratories (up 1.51%), Strides Shasun (up 1.51%), Aurobindo Pharma (up 1.26%), GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (up 0.85%), IPCA Laboratories (up 0.78%), Dr Reddy's Laboratories (up 0.43%) and Cipla (up 0.38%), edged higher. Alkem Laboratories was down 0.65%.

Most FMCG shares rose. Colgate Palmolive (India) (up 1.27%), Dabur India (up 0.87%), Hindustan Unilever (up 0.51%), Bajaj Corp (up 0.40%), Nestle India (up 0.21%), Britannia Industries (up 0.09%), Godrej Consumer Products (up 0.06%) and Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care (up 0.06%), edged higher. Jyothy Laboratories (down 0.05%), GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (down 0.16%), Tata Global Beverages (down 0.16%) and Marico (down 0.2%), edged lower.

Federal Bank gained 3.05% after a large bulk deal of 47.80 lakh shares was executed on the scrip at Rs 114.75 per share at 12:05 IST on BSE.

The 14-day long winter session of the Parliament concluded on Friday, 5 January 2018. The Speaker said that 16 bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha by the government in the session, of which 12 bills including the triple talaq bill was passed. Important bills passed during the session also included the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Bill and the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill.

Overseas, Asian stocks edged higher following firm US lead as investors awaited upcoming earnings releases. US stocks rose to record levels on Friday, 5 January 2018 even as Wall Street shook off jobs data that missed expectations. The US economy added 148,000 jobs in December, according to the Labor Department, as against expectations of 190,000 jobs.

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