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Markets consolidate ahead of US Fed meet
Markets consolidated on Wednesday after hitting fresh all-time highs on Tuesday amid profit taking in IT majors after TCS reportedly said that growth in Q4 March 2014 is likely to be subdued. Further, investors also turned cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve policy review later today.
The 30-share Sensex ended flat at 21,833 and 50-share Nifty gained 7 points at 6,524.
The broader markets outperformed the benchmark indices-BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices gained between 0.3-0.5%.
The market breadth in BSE ended positive with 1,466 shares advancing and 1,335 shares declining.
Foreign institutional investors continue to remain positive on Indian equities after they remained net buyers to the tune of Rs 1,012 crore on Tuesday as per the provisional data on the stock exchanges.
The rupee is trading higher at 61.02/03 versus Tuesday's close of 61.19/20 with dollar selling cited by two large foreign banks.
ASIAN MARKETS
Japan's Nikkei share average rose to a one-week high on Wednesday on hopes the Ukraine crisis will not deepen, but a widely-anticipated market debut by Japan Display disappointed, with the shares dropping below their offer price.
The Nikkei ended 0.4% higher to 14,462.52, the highest closing point since March 13, moving further away from a six-week low of 14,203.21 hit on Monday.
Japan Display, the world's largest maker of smartphone screens, closed at 763 yen, 15% lower than its offer price of 900 yen. It was the third most-traded stock by turnover.
SECTORS & STOCKS
BSE Metal index surged by over 2% followed by counters like FMCG, Banks, Capital Goods and Consumer Durables, all gaining between 0.5-1%. BSE IT index plunged by over 2% followed by counters like TECk, Oil & Gas and Realty, all declining between 0.3-2%.
Banks which are a proxy to the economy firmed up after Morgan Stanley revised the growth projection for 2014 to 5.2% from 5.1% earlier, forecasting a marginal improvement in India's economy.
Private bankers Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank were up 0.5-3% each while mortgage lender HDFC was up nearly 2%.
Index heavyweights ITC was up over 1%.
In the metal space, Tata Steel, Hindalco and Sesa Sterlite were up 2-5% each.
IT majors were among the top losers in today's trade with TCS down nearly 4% and Infosys slipped 2.3%. TCS witnessed profit taking after the company in an analyst meet on Tuesday, 18 March 2014, reportedly said that growth in Q4 March 2014 is likely to be subdued.
Tata Power, ONGC, Coal India and select auto stocks were the other Sensex losers.
SMART MOVERS
Polaris Financial Technology extended gains and advanced 20% to Rs 183 after the company announced the demerger of its Products (Intellect) business into an independent entity 'Intellect Design Arena Ltd (Intellect), with a focus on Global Universal Banking; Risk and Treasury Management; Global Transaction Banking and Insurance businesses.
State Bank of Travancore surged 6% after the board fixed April 4 as the record date for payment of interim dividend, if declared.
JSW Steel rose 3% to Rs 972 after the company reported 10% increase in crude steel production on pro forma basis to 9.63 lakh tonnes in February 2014 over February 2013.
Shares of Amtek India were up nearly 5%, extending it 20% rally on Tuesday, on talk that the recent acquisition of German auto component firm has come at a lower cost.
