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Markets end higher
Benchmark share indices recovered all intraday losses in the last hour of trade to end with gains led by banks and financial stocks. Sensex ended 169 points higher at 40,794, while Nifty ended 0.3% higher at 11,971.
Benchmark indices slipped early in the day following global markets.
On the Sensex, 17 stocks advanced and 13 declined. Bajaj Finserv and Bajaj Finance were the biggest gainers, while ONGC and NTPC were the prominent laggards.
On the Nifty, 26 stocks advanced and 24 declined. Nifty Bank closed 1.6% higher.
Loans where overdues repaid after 1 March ineligible under new recast window: RBI
Loans that were in default for more than 30 days as on 1 March but where the overdue amount was subsequently repaid will not be eligible for debt recast under the new debt recast window, the Reserve Bank of India has clarified.
The central bank released a set of frequently asked questions along with its responses late on Tuesday night, clarifying its stand of a number of issues. RBI has set 1 March as a reference date for deciding the eligibility of borrowers under the new resolution framework.
Gross NPAs of banks may jump to 11.5% by end of FY21: Care Rating
The gross non-performing assets ratio of Indian banks is likely to be 11-11.5% by end of current fiscal and they are likely to restructure 4-5% of the overall bank credit outstanding, according to Care Rating.
Future Group lost ₹7,000 cr revenue in first 3-4 months of covid pandemic: Biyani
Future Group founder Kishore Biyani on Wednesday said the homegrown retail major lost nearly ₹7,000 crore revenue in first three-four months of the covid-19 pandemic due to closing of stores, which led him to sell his business to Reliance Industries.
In August this year, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries announced acquisition of retail and wholesale business and the logistics and warehousing business from the Future Group as going concerns on a slump sale basis for ₹24,713 crore.
Nifty Banks recover intraday losses to rise 1.2%
Asian markets end mixed
Asian markets closed mixed on Wednesday. Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.11%, while Shanghai Composite lost 0.56%. Hang Seng rose 0.07%, while Australia's ASX ended 0.2% lower.
JM Financial Institutional Securities on cement sector
As per feedback from dealers in North, the labour has started coming back (40%+ as per our rural channel checks in September ’20) and hence they are seeing uptick in the volumes. Checks with large project companies suggest availability of labour at project sites has improved to around 80% of the normal levels. Some dealers felt the uptick in demand is also on account of renovation work being done before the festive season begins.
Rupee ends higher
The Indian Rupee settled 4 paise higher at 73.31 against the US dollar. On Tuesday, the local unit settled at 73.35 against the greenback.
Sensex recovers from day's low
Europe markets up
European shares held steady on Wednesday, underpinned by gains for Wall Street futures. France's CAC 40 was up 0.7%, while London's FTSE 100 gained 0.6% and Germany's DAX rose 0.3%.
IEA says oil producers may struggle to gauge demand amid second wave
Global oil stocks which rose during the height of the pandemic are being steadily reduced, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday, but a second wave is slowing demand and will complicate efforts by producers to balance the market.
OPEC producers plan to boost supply by 2 million barrels per day (bpd) from January and the IEA predicts a ceasefire in Libya will raise output there to 700,000 bpd in December from 300,000 bpd currently.
OPEC producers are currently cutting output by 7.7 million bpd.
Sensex at this hour
Public expenditure not vaccine for covid-affected economy: Expenditure Secretary
A day after finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a fresh set of measures to stimulate demand in the economy by incentivising spending by the central government employees and through additional capital expenditure, expenditure secretary in the finance ministry T.V. Somanathan explains the rationale behind the package. Read edited excerpts of the interview here.
US apparel watchdog probes Jockey's Indian partner Page Industries: Reuters
A US apparel industry watchdog has launched an investigation into underwear maker Jockey International's Indian partner Page Industries following allegations of human rights abuses at one of its factories, Reuters reported.
The investigation by Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production comes after Norway's $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund dropped Page from its investment portfolio due to concerns of human rights violations at "Unit-III" - one of Page's Jockey manufacturing sites in Bengaluru.
Tata looks to Big Basket deal for online groceries push
Tata Group is in talks to tie up with Indian online groceries unicorn Big Basket, as the conglomerate attempts to catch up with rivals including Amazon and Mukesh Ambani’s rapidly expanding retail empire. A partnership with Big Basket, which was this year valued at $1.3bn and is backed by Chinese internet group Alibaba, could help Tata to bolster its digital arsenal as coronavirus lockdowns propel growth in India’s online shopping market, the Financial Times reported.
BSE Smallcap
Retailers to see sequentially recovery in Q2 but pace remains slow
With incomes hit and the need for dressing-up reduced due to the pandemic, the retail sector has been bruised. That said, after a painful June quarter, the September quarter should bring some respite, albeit not much.
When Avenue Supermarts Ltd had announced its June quarter results, it had reported a nearly 34% year-on-year drop in its revenues. The company, which runs the DMart chain of retail stores, is set to announce its results on Saturday and revenue performance is expected show a reasonable sequential improvement. (Full report)
Gold shines in global markets
Gold firmed up in overseas markets as uncertainties over a global economic recovery and the U.S. presidential election prompted investors to exploit the previous session's sharp pullback to buy bullion.
Spot gold rose 0.3% to $1,895.84 per ounce by 0618 GMT, after shedding as much as 1.9% on Tuesday on the dollar's jump. U.S. gold futures gained 0.3% to $1,899.70.
Bank Nifty in the red
Nearly half of the global workforce at risk of losing livelihoods due to covid: WHO
Nearly half of the world’s 3.3 billion global workforce are at risk of losing their livelihoods, while the number of undernourished people, currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could increase by up to 132 million by the end of the year, due to the covid-induced economic and social disruptions, UN agencies have warned.
Nifty gainers/losers
Bajaj Finserv and Britannia are the top gainers, while Wipro and NTPC top laggards
AAI to seek airport contracts in International Solar Alliance member nations
State-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to leverage International Solar Alliance (ISA) to help land airport contracts in member countries, by showcasing Kerala’s Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), which is the first airport in the world to run fully on solar power.
India has been trying to land solar power project contracts in ISA member countries against the backdrop of China’s attempt to co-opt countries into its ambitious One Belt One Road initiative. (Read here)
Dhanlaxmi Bank invites applications for new chief executive
Dhanlaxmi Bank is looking for a new managing director and chief executive officer after Sunil Gurbaxani’s appointment was not ratified by shareholders last month.
“The candidate bank is looking for should have all-round banking experience of at least 25 years as a commercial banker, preferably in areas such as branch operations, administration, credit, retail, small and medium enterprise (SME), treasury, risk management and planning," it said in a public notice on Wednesday.
Nifty broad market indices weak
India's September wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation at 1.32% against 0.16% in August
Sensex at noon
Cement demand recovers across India, barring south, in September quarter
After a washout June quarter, cement demand in the September quarter revived in most regions. Latest dealers channel checks by various brokerages show that barring the South and some markets of West, cement demand improved in North, Central and East India. Improving labour availability and pent-up festive demand from the individual home building segment are aiding demand growth. The demand scenario in semi-rural and rural regions was better than urban areas. (Read here)
All sectoral indices in the red
Future Retail down 3% at ₹74
The group has engaged senior advocate Harish Salve for its potential legal battle with Amazon which has challenged the Kishore Biyani group over its deal to sell retail assets to Retail Industries without the US firm's approval, The Economic Times reported.
Vedanta slips 3% to ₹97
After a plan to delist its Indian unit failed, Anil Agarwal’s commodities group will repay $1.4 billion raised via bonds and another $1.1 billion in loans, with a small amount of interest, to banks and bondholders as early as this week, media reports said. The company also said it is committed to investing in the country that offers unparalleled opportunities and growth.
Sensex contributors at a glance
Yash Gupta - Equity Research Associate, Angel Broking on Glenmark
Glenmark introduces nindanib (Nintedanib) and is amongst the first to launch the branded generic version at an affordable cost for the treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis in India . Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a respiratory condition characterized by thickening and/or scarring of the lungs, making breathing difficult and reducing patient life spans Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis affects as many as 120 Indians per million Patients with IPF are at higher risk of developing severe respiratory conditions if affected by COVID-19 Glenmark’s NINDANIB priced at Rs. 4500 (100 mg) and Rs. 5400 (150 mg) PER MONTH is just available at 5 % of the cost as compared to the innovator brand in India. This is a very positive development for the company.
Apple’s iPhone 12 series will sell in India from 30 October, starting at ₹69,900
The iPhone 12 series will be sold in India from 30 October onwards and will start at ₹69,900. The devices will be available in 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB storage variants. While the iPhone 12 will start at ₹76,900, the 12 Mini will be sold at a starting price of ₹69,900.
Bajaj Finserv up; applies for mutual fund licence
For India’s recovery, IMF advises a better fiscal stimulus
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF's) latest economic outlook report paints a grim picture for emerging markets, and especially for India.
The IMF expects India’s economy to shrink by 10.3% in FY21, the most among emerging market economies. True, the multilateral agency is not the only one predicting a sharp contraction for India. In fact, it is not even the most pessimistic in its forecasts. (Full report)
Nifty IT down 1%; Wipro slips 6%
BSE Midcap flat
Rupee slips at open
Rupee fell 5 paise to open at 73.40 against US dollar in early trade. The domestic currency closed at 73.35 on Tuesday.
Centre weighs Voda tax row outcome
The government is examining the decision of an arbitration panel last month favouring Vodafone Group Plc in a tax dispute, given its implications for India’s sovereign rights of taxation, a government official told Mint.
Reducing tax litigation is a policy priority for the Narendra Modi administration but the dispute with Vodafone Group Plc on its $11 billion offshore deal acquiring Hutchison Essar Ltd—later renamed Vodafone India Ltd—has implications beyond the legality of retrospective taxes.
Market breadth weak
Infosys Q2 earnings today: Five things to watch out for
Infosys Ltd, India’s second largest IT services exporter by revenue, will announce its second quarter earnings on Wednesday. Peers Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Ltd and Wipro Ltd have performed reasonably well compared to the last two pandemic-hit quarters.
For the quarter ended June, Infosys’s net profit rose 11.5% y-o-y but declined
Mint highlights five things to watch for in Infosys’ second quarter results that will be declared after market hours today.
Yes Bank tags Cox & Kings, group cos wilful defaulters
Yes Bank Ltd has classified Cox & Kings, its non-bank lending unit Cox & Kings Financial Services, and related entity Ezeego One Travel and Tours, which have total loans of ₹1,862 crore, as wilful defaulters.
Nifty bank weak
Gold prices a tad up
Gold price in India struggled today after a sharp fall in the previous session while silver edged higher. On MCX, December gold futures were up 0.19% to ₹50,343 per 10 gram while silver futures moved 0.3% higher to ₹60,738 per kg.
Wipro slips 6%
Nifty losers/gainers at open
Markets open
Govt suggests more boosters on the anvil
The government is not ruling out the possibility of another set of economic stimulus measures to steady the economy, a senior government official said, a day after the finance ministry announced steps to boost consumer spending and capital expenditure. (Full report)
Markets flat at pre-opening session
Curbs on China skew bulk drugs market
The government’s move to reduce India’s dependence on China for crucial raw materials used in medicines has led to the creation of local monopolies in a growing number of product categories. This, experts said, may lead to supply constraints and price increases if left unchecked. While the situation is not alarming yet, it does warrant the need to expand domestic capacities, they told Mint.
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