Market shrugs off deficit gap, rallies fifth week in a row.

MUMBAI: Shrugging off the mayhem on the first day of the week following widening trade-deficit, drop in inflation propelled market sentiment on hopes that Reserve Bank will cut rates in forthcoming policy meeting next month, sending both indices to multi-months highs.

Sustained foreign fund inflows amid positive global cues too supported the key benchmark indices to end in positive terrain for the fifth straight week.


Interest rate sensitive stocks from realty and banking were at the forefront on expectations of rate cut by the RBI in its next monetary policy meeting on June 17 to improve the economic growth.

Besides rate related stocks, capital goods, power, pharma and refinery share too were in demand while FMCG, consumer durable, IT and tech counters were at the receiving end on profit-booking.

The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share barometer resumed the week sharply lower with a fall of nearly 431 points, largest fall in the current calender year, and later rallied on positive economic data to a high of 20,328.19 before ending the week at 28-month high of 20,286.12, logging a rise of 163.80 points, or 0.81 per cent.

The wide-based 50-issue CNX Nifty of the NSE also flared up by 80.05 points or 1.31 per cent to nearly 30-month high of 6,187.30.

The onslaught of the first day was sidelined from the second-day of the week with recovery following sharp fall in Wholesale Price Index (WPI) to three-year low of 4.89 per cent raising anticipation of interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank to stimulate economic growth.

Meanwhile, the data showed that the country's trade deficit widened in April 2013 following rise in imports while retail inflation (CPI) declined to 9.39 per cent in April from 10.39 per cent in March.

"Foreign fund flow has been strong as well. Investors are also betting on an aggressive reduction in interest rate following the April inflation numbers which came at sub 5% after a long period of time," said Sanjeev Zarbade, Vice President- Private Client Group Research, Kotak Securities.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were consistent net buyers and infused Rs 4,746.53 crore in equities, including provisional data of May 17.

14 scrips out of the 30-share Sensex pack ended higher while other finished with losses.

ICICI Bank spurted by 5.16 per cent, SBI by 5.14 per cent, HDFC Bank by 2.31 per cent, HDFC by 3.19 per cent, L&T by 3.83 per cent, BHEL by 2.83 per cent, Cipla by 5.59 per cent, Sun Pharma by 1.32 per cent, Hindalco by 3.71 per cent, M&M by 1.72 per cent, RIL by 2.59 per cent, ONGC by 3.54 per cent and NTPC by 3.66 per cent.

However, ITC dipped by 5.63 per cent, Wipro by 2.94 per cent, TCS by 1.32 per cent, Infosys by 0.48 per cent, Bajaj Auto by 1.59 per cent, Coal India by 1.97 per cent, GAIL India by 1.76 per cent, Bharti Airtel by 2.90 per cent, Hero MotoCorp by 1.43 per cent, Maruti Suzuki by 1.31 per cent, Tata Motors by 1.41 per cent and Tata Steel by 2.14 per cent.
Among sectoral indices, the S&P BSE-Realty rose by 5.93 per cent followed by S&P BSE-CG 4.30 per cent, S&P BSE Bankex 4.09 per cent, S&P BSE-Power 3.88 per cent, S&P BSE-HC 2.92 per cent and S&P BSE-Oil&Gas 2.08 per cent while S&P BSE-FMCG dropped by 2.93 per cent, S&P BSE-CD by 2.12 per cent, S&P BSE-IT by 1.82 per cent and S&P BSE-Teck by 1.70 per cent.


The total turnover at BSE and NSE during the week was at Rs 10,647.57 crore and Rs 55,133.94 crore from last week's turnover of Rs 11,489.92 crore and Rs 50,502.62 crore, respectively.

Forex: The Indian rupee depreciated by another eight paise to settle the week at 54.88 against the Greenback on sustained dollar demand from importers amid firm USD overseas, extending losses for the second straight week.

However, bullish local equities amid sustained capital inflows limited the rupee fall to a major extent.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the domestic unit commenced lower at 54.88 a dollar from last weekend's close of 54.80 and later dipped to a 2-month low of 55.0250.

But it recovered on strong equities to a high of 54.53 before settling the week at its opening level of 54.88, still showing a fall of eight paise or 0.14 per cent. Last week, it had tumbled by 86 paise or 1.59 per cent.

The Indian benchmark S&P BSE Sensex improved further by 163.80 points or 0.81 per cent while FIIs injected Rs 4,746.53 crore in the last week, including provisional data of May 17.

Meanwhile, retail inflation (CPI) fell to 9.39 per cent in April from 10.39 per cent in March while headline inflation (WPI) dipped below 5 to 4.89 per cent in April from 5.96 per cent in the previous month, giving space for the RBI to cut the interest rate in the forthcoming monetary policy meeting next month.

Mr Pramit Brahmbhatt, CEO, Alpari Financial Services (India) said, "This week Rupee depreciated against the dollar despite firm Indian shares. The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies traded positively this week which weighed on the Rupee and kept the Rupee movement range bound for the week. For Monday resistance for USDINR (Spot) pair is at 55.15 and the trading range for the same is expected to be within 54.70 to 55.20.


Source : articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com