Markets trade near all-time high levels; Sensex trade above 71,800 mark

27 Dec 2023 Evaluate

Indian equity benchmarks were trading near all-time highs in last leg of trade on Wednesday, tracking upbeat global market and amid hopes of Fed rates cut starting early next year. Broader indices too were trading higher in tandem with Sensex and Nifty. Buying in auto and metal stocks keep lifted markets higher. Traders took support with Reserve Bank of India’s statement that India's current account deficit narrowed in the July-September quarter largely due to a lower merchandise trade deficit while services exports also grew. The current account deficit stood at $8.3 billion, or 1% of GDP, in the second quarter of fiscal 2023-24 as compared to $9.2 billion or 1.1% of GDP in the preceding quarter.

Firm opening in European counters too aided sentiments. All the major indices were trading in green on renewed expectations of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and the positive sentiment in Wall Street. Asian markets were also trading higher, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight, amid optimism about the outlook for interest rates following last week's tamer-than-expected US consumer price inflation data. Back home, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will conduct a variable rate repo (VRR) auction for a third time in less than two weeks later on Wednesday as liquidity conditions stay tight and overnight rates remain elevated. The RBI had infused 1.75 trillion rupees through a seven-day VRRR on Dec. 22 and 1 trillion rupees in the prior week that matured on Dec. 22.

The BSE Sensex is currently trading at 71814.84, up by 478.04 points or 0.67% after trading in a range of 71473.65 and 71871.81. There were 25 stocks advancing against 5 stocks declining on the index.

The broader indices were trading in green; the BSE Mid cap index gained 0.45%, while Small cap index was up by 0.17%.

The top gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were Auto up by 1.21%, Basic Materials up by 1.11%, Metal up by 1.10%, Consumer Discretionary Goods & Services up by 0.82% and Bankex up by 0.72%, while Oil & Gas down by 0.54%, Energy down by 0.38%, Utilities down by 0.27%, Power down by 0.23% were the few losing indices on BSE.

The top gainers on the Sensex were Ultratech Cement up by 4.13%, Tata Motors up by 2.79%, JSW Steel up by 1.99%, Bharti Airtel up by 1.96% and SBI up by 1.39%. On the flip side, NTPC down by 1.49%, Tech Mahindra down by 0.56%, Power Grid down by 0.15%, ITC down by 0.11% and TCS down by 0.04% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, the commerce and industry ministry has said that the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) is working closely with 24 sub-sectors which have been chosen keeping in mind the Indian industries strengths and competitive edge, need for import substitution, potential for export and increased employability. It added that these sub-sectors are -- furniture, air-conditioners, leather and footwear, ready to eat, fisheries, agri produce, auto components, aluminium, electronics, agrochemicals, steel, textiles, EV components and integrated circuits, ethanol, ceramics, set top boxes, robotics, televisions, close circuit cameras, toys, drones, medical devices, sporting goods, gym equipment.

The ministry said that since its launch, 'Make in India' has made significant achievements and is now focusing on 27 sectors under 'Make in India 2.0'. While the DPIIT is coordinating action plans for 15 manufacturing sectors, the Department of Commerce is coordinating for 12 service sectors.

It further said efforts are on to boost the growth of the sub-sectors in a holistic and coordinated manner. It also said that investment outreach is being done through ministries, state governments and Indian missions abroad; investment identification of potential investors, handholding and investment facilitation is done through Invest India. 

The CNX Nifty is currently trading at 21588.45, up by 147.10 points or 0.69% after trading in a range of 21495.80 and 21603.40. There were 36 stocks advancing against 14 stocks declining on the index.

The top gainers on Nifty were Ultratech Cement up by 4.11%, Hindalco up by 3.85%, Bajaj Auto up by 3.41%, Tata Motors up by 2.83% and Grasim Industries up by 2.08%. On the flip side, NTPC down by 1.52%, ONGC down by 1.28%, Britannia Inds down by 0.99%, Adani Enterprises down by 0.81% and Tech Mahindra down by 0.71% were the top losers.

Asian markets are trading higher; Nikkei 225 surged 375.39 points or 1.11% to 33,681.24, Hang Seng jumped 284.43 points or 1.71% to 16,624.84, Taiwan Weighted rose 139.77 points or 0.78% to 17,891.50, Straits Times advanced 31.02 points or 0.99% to 3,171.00, Shanghai Composite strengthened 15.73 points or 0.54% to 2,914.61, KOSPI increased 10.91 points or 0.42% to 2,613.50 and Jakarta Composite was up by 8.40 points or 0.12% to 7,245.92.

European markets were trading higher; UK’s FTSE 100 gained 42.61 points or 0.55% to 7,740.12, France’s CAC added 15.09 points or 0.20% to 7,583.91 and Germany’s DAX was up by 6.43 points or 0.04% to 16,721.40.

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