After hovering in positive zone in early afternoon trade, key benchmark indices extended intraday gains in afternoon trade. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, and the 50-unit CNX Nifty, both, hit their highest level in more than three weeks. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. The Sensex was currently up 118.25 points or 0.43% at 27,922.62.
Auto stocks declined. IT stocks were mixed. Tech Mahindra dropped on reports that a foreign brokerage has maintained its 'underweight' stance on the stock.
Key benchmark indices edged higher today, 24 June 2015, on speculation that a pick-up in sowing of Kharif crops, above-average monsoon rains during the initial part of the June-September southwest monsoon season and a restrained increase in minimum support prices for Kharif crops announced by the government last week will improve the odds for further monetary policy easing from Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Concerns of a likely spike in food prices have receded due to above-average rains during the initial part of the June-September southwest monsoon season. The RBI cut its main benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate by 25 basis points after a monetary policy review on 2 June 2015. The central bank at that time said that the monsoon and its impact on food costs will be key to further easing.
Meanwhile, the summary of the electronic consultation with of the members of the Technical Advisory Committee on Monetary Policy released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released by the RBI yesterday, 23 June 2014, showed that all the seven members of the committee recommended a reduction in policy repo rate by the RBI at the Second Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Review, 2015-16 on 2 June 2015.
Indian stocks may remain volatile in the near future as traders roll over positions in the futures & options (F&O) segment from the near month June 2015 series to July 2015 series. The near month June 2015 derivatives contracts expire tomorrow, 25 June 2015.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 374.97 crore yesterday, 23 June 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 404.20 crore yesterday, 23 June 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.
In overseas stock markets, European stocks reversed initial gains. Asian stocks edged higher amid optimism about a possible solution to Greece's debt woes. US stocks ended a choppy trading session slightly higher yesterday, 23 June 2015, though modest gains were enough to push the Nasdaq Composite and Russell 2000 to record closing levels.
At 13:16 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 118.25 points or 0.43% at 27,922.62. The index jumped 128.62 points at the day's high of 27,932.99 in afternoon trade, its highest level since 1 June 2015. The index fell 19.93 points at the day's low of 27,784.44 in early trade.
The CNX Nifty was up 33.90 points or 0.4% at 8,415.45. The index hit a high of 8,416.25 in intraday trade, its highest level since 2 June 2015. The index hit a low of 8,376.10 in intraday trade.
The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 37.39 points or 0.35% at 10,689.31. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 34.99 points or 0.31% at 11,179.96. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. On BSE, 1,378 shares rose and 1,099 shares fell. A total of 124 shares were unchanged.
Reliance Industries (RIL) edged higher on reports that a foreign brokerage has maintained its 'buy' call on the stock. The scrip was up 0.3% at Rs 997.75. The foreign brokerage has reportedly said that RIL's near-term outlook remains strong on the back of strong refining margins and it is optimistic on growth of the company excluding its telecom venture. Upcoming expansion in refining will be a key earnings driver for the company, the brokerage said. However, prolonged oil price weakness remains a risk factor, the brokerage added.
Auto stocks declined. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) (down 1.32%), Ashok Leyland (down 1.47%), Maruti Suzuki India (down 0.38%), Eicher Motors (down 0.26%), Hero MotoCorp (down 0.05%), Bajaj Auto (down 0.37%) and TVS Motor Company (down 2.59%) declined.
IT stocks were mixed. HCL Technologies (up 1.34%), Infosys (up 0.25%), MphasiS (up 1.29%) and Wipro (up 1.08%) edged higher. TCS (down 0.26%) and Oracle Financial Services Software (down 0.45%) declined.
Tech Mahindra dropped on reports that a foreign brokerage has maintained its 'underweight' stance on the stock. The stock was off 1.2% at Rs 547. The stock hit a high of Rs 552 and a low of Rs 545.65 so far during the day. The foreign brokerage reportedly said that growth challenges in Tech Mahindra's telecom industry vertical and its weak enterprise business will lead to lower earnings. The company's margins will surprise the consensus negatively going ahead, the brokerage added.
Aviation stocks jumped after reports the ministry of civil aviation is looking for possible ways to reduce the tax burden on the aviation industry. Under the scanner are taxes levied by the central and state governments. It was one of the issues discussed in a meeting held between civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, 22 June 2015, reports suggested. Jet Airways India (up 3.43%) and SpiceJet (up 3.25%) edged higher.
Meanwhile, concerns of a likely spike in food prices have receded due to above-average rains during the initial part of the June-September southwest monsoon season. For the country as a whole, the cumulative rainfall during this year's monsoon season was 21% above the Long Period Average (LPA) until 22 June 2015. Region wise, the southwest monsoon was 45% above the LPA in Central India, 35% above the LPA in South Peninsula, 3% above the LPA in East & Northeast India and 7% below the LPA in Northwest India until 22 June 2015.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its daily monsoon update issued yesterday, 23 June 2015, that the southwest monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of north Arabian Sea, Gujarat state, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar and remaining parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and some parts of East Uttar Pradesh. Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into remaining parts of north Arabian sea, Gujarat state, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, entire Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, some more parts of Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi and Rajasthan during next 2-3 days, the IMD said. The Southwest monsoon was vigorous over West Madhya Pradesh and active over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura, Odisha, Jharkhand, East Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh during past 24 hours until 8:30 IST, the IMD said.
The June-September southwest monsoon is critical for the country's agriculture because a considerable part of the country's farmland is dependent on the rains for irrigation.
Meanwhile, the summary of the electronic consultation with of the members of the Technical Advisory Committee on Monetary Policy released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released by the RBI yesterday, 23 June 2014, showed that all the seven members of the committee recommended a reduction in policy repo rate by the RBI at the Second Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Review, 2015-16 on 2 June 2015. Four members advocated a cut in repo rate by 25 basis points; two members suggested a 50 basis points reduction and one member proposed a reduction by 75 basis points. One of these members also recommended that the SLR should also be reduced by 50 basis points. It may be recalled that the RBI cut its benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate by 25 basis points after the 2 June 2015 policy review.
In overseas stock markets, European stocks today, 24 June 2015, reversed initial gains. Key benchmark indices in France and Germany were off 0.09% to 0.12%. In UK, the FTSE 100 index was up 0.25%.
Greece remains the focal point for global markets. Greece and its international lenders are racing to hammer out a reform deal this week. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will meet European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, the International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels today, 24 June 2015. They will discuss the reform plans Athens submitted early this week, trying to resolve the remaining issues that are blocking a deal. Later, Eurogroup of finance ministers will hold a meeting today, 24 June 2015, evening, aiming to prepare an agreement that could be signed off by European Union leaders at a summit tomorrow, 25 June 2015.
Greece needs a deal to unlock new financing ahead of a 1.54 billion euro ($1.75 billion) debt payment due to the International Monetary Fund at the end of June.
Asian stocks edged higher today, 24 June 2015, as optimism around Greece's debt talks continue to buoy sentiment. Key indices in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Indonesia were up 0.07% to 2.44%.
Members of the Bank of Japan's monetary policy board are satisfied with the rate of the country's economic recovery and the recovery is expected to continue, minutes from the board's meeting on May 21 and 22 showed yesterday, 23 June 2015.
US stocks closed mildly higher yesterday, 23 June 2015, as investors remained optimistic on the Greece debt talks and eyed continued signs of moderate economic growth. Data on sales of new single-family homes showed that new homes in May were sold at an annual rate of 546,000, hitting the fastest pace since February 2008. The figures showed growth in two out of four regions, while April numbers were also raised. The home-sales data came after a report showed that orders for durable US goods fell a seasonally adjusted 1.8% in May, mostly due to weaker demand for commercial aircraft.
Meanwhile, the Markit US manufacturing PMI fell to 53.4 in June from 54 in May, data released yesterday, 23 June 2015 showed.
Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell was quoted as saying yesterday, 23 June 2015, that there could be two interest-rate hikes this year. He also said that the US stock market isn't showing signs of being in a bubble.
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