BSE Small-Cap, Mid-Cap indices shed over 3% each

MoM Team / Mumbai, Feb 22, 04:47 PM

Key benchmark indices edged lower to reach their lowest closing level in more than a week as weakness in European stocks triggered profit booking on the domestic bourses after recent strong rally in share prices. The barometer index, BSE Sensex, and the 50-unit S&P CNX Nifty retracted after hitting 30-week highs at the onset of the trading session. The Sensex lost 283.36 points or 1.54%, off close to 380 points from the day's high and up about 50 points from the day's low. The market breadth was weak. Except BSE IT index, all the other 12 sectoral indices on BSE were in the red. BSE Small-Cap and Mid-Cap indices slumped more than 3% each.



Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) declined more than 1%. State Bank of India (SBI) tumbled nearly 8% on reports that the bank has committed around Rs 1200 crore to beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines. Shares of many other state-run banks slumped. Metal and realty stocks dropped.



The Sensex has jumped 951.70 points or 5.53% in February 2012 so far. The barometer index has surged 2,690.33 points or 17.4% in calendar 2012 so far. From a 52-week low of 15,135.86 on 20 December 2011, the Sensex has risen 3009.39 points or 19.88%. From a 52-week high of 19,811.14 on 6 April 2011, the Sensex has lost 1,665.89 points or 8.4%.



Coming back to today's trade, the market pared gains after hitting 30-week high at the onset of the trading session. The market reversed direction and slipped into the red to hit fresh intraday low in morning trade. The market trimmed losses after sliding to hit fresh intraday low in mid-morning trade. The market moved in a narrow range in the negative terrain in early afternoon trade. Key benchmark indices pared losses in afternoon trade. A bout of volatility was witnessed as key benchmark indices slumped to hit fresh intraday lows after moving into positive zone for a brief period in mid-afternoon trade. The market extended losses to hit fresh intraday low in late trade.



The market may remain volatile tomorrow, 23 February 2012, as traders roll over positions in futures & options (F&O) segment from the near-month February 2012 series to March 2012 series. The near-month February 2012 F&O contracts expire tomorrow, 23 February 2012.



The BSE Sensex lost 283.36 points or 1.54% to settle at 18,145.25, its lowest closing level since 14 February 2012. The index jumped 95.17 points at the day's high of 18,523.78 in early trade, its highest level since 27 July 2011. The index fell 332.80 points at the day's low of 18,095.81 in late trade.



The S&P CNX Nifty lost 101.80 points or 1.82% to settle at 5,505.35, its lowest closing level since 14 February 2012. Nifty hit a high of 5,629.95 in intraday trade, its highest level since 26 July 2011. The index hit a low of 5,491.35 in intraday trade.



The BSE Mid-Cap index tumbled 3.46% and the BSE Small-Cap index shed 3.24%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.



BSE clocked turnover of Rs 3839 crore, higher than Rs 3537.89 crore on Tuesday, 21 February 2012.



The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. On BSE, 2,208 shares fell and 769 shares rose. A total of 106 shares were unchanged. The market breadth was positive earlier in the day.



The BSE Bankex rose 7.11% in the preceding six sessions to 12,838.84 on 21 February 2012, from a recent low of 11,986.92 on 10 February 2012. The BSE Bankex had outperformed the market over the past one month until 21 February 2012, gaining 17.66% compared with the Sensex's 10.09% rise. The index had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 30.58% as against 15.57% rise in the Sensex.



Airline stocks tumbled as oil rose to a nine-month high on Tuesday on Greece's bailout. Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and SpiceJet shed by between 6.53% to 9.05%. Jet fuel or aviation turbine fuel (ATF) typically makes up almost half of an airline's operating cost. Prices of jet fuel are directly linked to crude oil prices. State-run oil marketing companies--Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation revise jet fuel prices on the 1st and 16th of every month based on the average international crude price in the preceding fortnight.



Realty stocks reversed initial gains on profit taking. DLF, HDIL and Unitech dropped by between 7.69% to 8.31%. From a recent low of 1370.23 on 2 January 2012, the BSE Realty index jumped 58.36% to 2169.96 on 21 February 2012.



SBI clocked highest turnover of Rs 286.64 crore on BSE. United Spirits (Rs 105.85 crore), HDIL (Rs 76.29 crore), L&T (Rs 76.20 crore) and Reliance Capital (Rs 75.89 crore) were the other turnover toppers in that order.



Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1400.17 crore on Tuesday, 21 February 2012, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges. FIIs have bought shares worth a net Rs 13549.43 crore in this month so far (21 February 2012), as per provisional data from the stock exchanges. The inflow this month comes on the top of heavy purchases last month. FIIs bought shares worth a net Rs 10357.70 crore in January 2012, as per data from Securities & Exchange Board of India (Sebi).



The government said on Tuesday that inflation based on the consumer price index (CPI) rose 7.65% in January 2012. The annual CPI data released for the first time on Tuesday measures retail prices in major food groups, fuel, clothing, housing and education across rural and urban India. The new CPI price series is gradually expected to displace wholesale price data as the primary indicator of inflationary trends.



Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will present the annual budget for 2012/13 on 16 March 2012, while the railways budget will be presented on 14 March 2012. The budget session of parliament will start on 12 March 2012. The government will present on March 15 the Economic Survey for 2011/12, a document on the state of economy prepared by the economic division in the ministry of finance. The annual budget is usually presented on the last working day of February. However, the budget has been delayed this time due to the ongoing assembly polls. Polling for assembly elections in five states concludes in early March 2012.



Trading in US index futures indicated a flat opening of US stocks on Wednesday, 22 February 2012. US stocks finished mostly higher on Tuesday after European officials agreed to another round of aid for Greece, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly above 13,000 for the first time since 2008.



 

Source: Capital Market