Banking stocks and PSU OMCs led gains for key benchmark indices. Benchmark indices extended initial gains, with the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, and the 50-unit CNX Nifty, both, hitting their highest level in more than twelve weeks in morning trade. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was strong. The Sensex was currently up 163.12 points or 0.58% at 28,361.41. In overseas markets, Asian stocks nudged higher after Greece's parliament today, 16 July 2015, approved austerity measures to secure a bailout for the country and potentially avoid its exit from the eurozone.
IT stocks advanced after better than expected economic data in US. Metal & mining stocks also edged higher.
In overseas markets, Asian stocks edged higher after Greece's parliament today, 16 July 2015, approved austerity measures to secure a bailout for the country and potentially avoid its exit from the eurozone. US stocks closed slightly lower yesterday, 15 July 2015, snapping a four-session winning streak, as investors monitored developments in Greece.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 407.69 crore yesterday, 15 July 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 50.38 crore yesterday, 15 July 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.
At 10:17 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 163.12 points or 0.58% at 28,361.41. The index jumped 175.39 points at the day's high of 28,373.68 in morning trade, its highest level since 20 April 2015. The index rose 47.52 points at the day's low of 28,245.81 in early trade.
The CNX Nifty was up 45.95 points or 0.54% at 8,569.75. The index hit a high of 8,575.55 in intraday trade, its highest level since 20 April 2015. The index hit a low of 8,542.90 in intraday trade.
The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was strong. On BSE, 1,329 shares gained and 702 shares fell. A total of 79 shares were unchanged.
The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 70.17 points or 0.63% at 11,121.83. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 67.85 points or 0.59% at 11,646.54. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
IT stocks advanced after better than expected economic data in US. Tech Mahindra (up 0.16%), HCL Technologies (up 0.53%), TCS (up 0.21%), Oracle Financial Services Software (up 0.72%), MphasiS (up 0.66%) Infosys (up 0.65%), and Wipro (up 0.46%) edged higher. US is the biggest outsourcing market for the Indian IT firms.
Metal & mining stocks gained. JSW Steel (up 0.67%), Bhushan Steel (up 2.18%), Hindustan Copper (up 0.49%), Hindalco Industries (up 0.86%), Hindustan Zinc (up 0.46%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 0.37%), Tata Steel (up 1.07%), Steel Authority of India (Sail) (up 0.43%), and National Aluminum Company (up 0.13%) gained. Vedanta fell 0.03%. NMDC declined 0.26%.
In global commodities markets, Brent crude oil prices edged higher today, 16 July 2015, after weekly data showed that US crude inventories dropped last week and refinery demand was high. Brent for August settlement was currently up 50 cents at $57.55 a barrel. The contract had dropped $1.46 a barrel or 2.49% to settle at $57.05 a barrel during the previous trading session. The August Brent contract is set to expire today, 16 July 2015. Brent for September settlement was currently up 47 cents at $57.59 a barrel.
India imports about 80% of its crude requirements and a decline in crude eases concerns on fiscal deficit, inflation and gives more room for the government to boost growth through spending on infrastructure. However, a weakness in rupee against the dollar will restrict the benefit of falling global crude oil prices to that extent. A weak rupee raises the cost of imports.
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged lower against the dollar. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 63.4925, compared with its close of 63.4225 during the previous trading session.
Meanwhile, state-run oil marketing companies yesterday, 15 July 2015, announced a reduction in petrol and diesel prices. Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) said that the company has decided to reduce the basic retail selling price of petrol by Rs 2 per litre (excluding state levies) with effect from the midnight of 15 July/16 July 2015. IOCL also announced reduction in basic retail selling price of diesel by Rs 2 per litre (excluding state levies).
Meanwhile, the data released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry after trading hours yesterday, 15 July 2015, showed that India's merchandise exports fell 15.82% to $22.29 billion in June 2015 over June 2014. Imports fell 13.4% to $33.11 billion in June 2015 over June 2014. Oil imports fell 34.97% to $8.67 billion in June 2015 over June 2014. Non-oil imports fell 1.85% to $24.44 billion in June 2015 over June 2014. The trade deficit declined to $10.82 billion in June 2015 from $11.76 billion in June 2014.
Meanwhile, India's weather office, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said in its daily monsoon update issued yesterday, 15 July 2015, that the Southwest Monsoon was vigorous over Arunachal Pradesh and Rayalaseema and was active over Assam & Meghalaya, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Bihar and Coastal Andhra Pradesh during 24 hours ending until 8:30 IST.
For the country as a whole, cumulative rainfall during this year's monsoon season was 6% below the Long Period Average (LPA) until 15 July 2015. Region wise, the southwest monsoon was 15% above the LPA in Northwest India, 6% below the LPA in East & Northeast India, 12% below the LPA in South Peninsula and 13% below the LPA in Central India until 15 July 2015.
The quantum of and the spatial distribution of rainfall this month holds key, with July being a crucial month for the sowing of Kharif crops. 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.
In overseas markets, Asian stocks rose today, 16 July 2015, after Greece's parliament today, 16 July 2015, approved austerity measures to secure a bailout for the country and potentially avoid its exit from the eurozone. Key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea rose 0.03% to 0.99%.
US stocks closed slightly lower yesterday, 15 July 2015, snapping a four-session winning streak, as investors monitored developments in Greece. In macro data in the US, the producer-price index, which measures the prices at which companies sell goods and services, rose 0.4% in June, the Labor Department said yesterday, 15 July 2015. Core prices rose 0.3%. US industrial production rose 0.3% in June from May.
In her semiannual testimony to Congress yesterday, 15 July 2015, Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen repeated her view that the Fed will likely hike interest rates this year if the US economy expands as expected, and cited improvement in the labor market.
In Europe, the Greek parliament today, 16 July 2015, passed a sweeping bundle of austerity measures, a prerequisite for 86 billion euros ($95 billion) in loans for the next three years from the eurozone and International Monetary Fund. Early this week, eurozone leaders agreed on a three-year bailout for the debt-laden country. The measures call for more severe spending cuts, market reforms and tax increases than those rejected by Greek voters in a referendum on 5 July 2015.
Greece's financial institutions have been on life support for weeks. Depositor withdrawals have been limited to euro 60 a day during a bank holiday that has been in place since 29 June 2015.
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