BackSensex falls to two-month low, erases post-reform gains
The benchmark index lost 0.88% to end at 18,309.37 points; NSE’s Nifty drops 1% to 5,574.05 points
Premium(Hemant Mishra/Mint)
Mumbai: The BSE Sensex fell for a sixth consecutive session on Friday to a two-month low, as blue chips such as ICICI Bank Ltd were hit by caution ahead of the resumption of the winter Parliament session, which is seen as a key test for the government’s reform credentials.
The benchmark index is now at close to levels in mid-September, when the government sparked a rally by announcing a hike in diesel prices and measures to open up the multi-brand retail and aviation sectors to foreign investment.
However, markets have faltered since the start of October amid doubts about the governments resolve to implement those reforms given political opposition to some of the measures.
Most recently, the global risk environment has worsened, especially in light of potentially protracted negotiations over the US fiscal cliff, sending the index down around 2% for the week.
“If the political alignments don’t work out, then it will be a problem for the markets especially in the background of twin deficits," said G. Chokkalingam, chief investment officer at Centrum Wealth Management.
The benchmark BSE index fell 0.88%, or 162 points, to end at 18,309.37 points, marking its lowest close since 13 September.
For the week, the Sensex fell 2%, marking its biggest weekly fall since the week ended on 11 May.
The broader NSE Nifty fell 1%, or 56.95 points, to 5,574.05 points, marking its lowest close since 20 September.
Investors are also concerned about India’s ability to contain its fiscal deficit. Finance ministry officials conceded privately the country will struggle to shore up its finances after a dismal response to this week’s auction of mobile phone licences and a battle to sell stakes in state companies.
Financial shares were among the leading decliners on Friday: ICICI Bank fell 2.6%, while State Bank of India retreated 2.1%. Mortgage lender HDFC lost 2.3%.
These rate-sensitive stocks were also hit after Reserve Bank of India governor D. Subbarao called inflation still quite high, even as data this week showed the wholesale price index unexpectedly easing last month.
Real estate stocks also fell, with DLF losing 2.7%, while Unitech Ltd dropped 5.64%.
Tata Motors Ltd shares fell 2.7%, after the company reported on Thursday sales at key unit Jaguar Land Rover rose less than expected. The Indian auto maker has dropped 5.6% in the past three sessions.
Recent outperformers also fell. Ashok Leyland Ltd lost 2.7% after rising 17.2% in the last four sessions following last week’s much better than expected July-September earnings.
However, broader losses were capped by gains as software services exporters rose after under-performing recently. Infosys Ltd rose 2.05% on value buying, after falling 2.2% for the week as of Thursday’s close.
Bharti Airtel Ltd surged 3.8% to end near its highest closing level since 30 July. Shares have gained 9.3% over the four previous session after an auction of 2G airwaves attracted less demand than targeted by the government, leading to lower prices.
Bank of America-Merrill Lynch upgraded Bharti Airtel to “buy" from “neutral" citing the positive outcome of the 2G auction this week. Reuters
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