Key benchmark indices ended the volatile session on a positive note. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 124.49 points or 0.39% to settle at 32,028.89. The Nifty 50 index rose 41.95 points or 0.42% to settle at 9,915.25. The Sensex settled a tad above the psychologically important 32,000 mark after trading above and below that level in intraday trade. Shares had fallen in intraday trade due to negative global cues. However, gains in index pivotals Reliance Industries (RIL) and IT major Wipro supported the bourses at lower levels.

Overseas, European stocks fell, weighed by strength in the euro, as the flow of corporate earnings results failed to provide a lift. The European Central Bank (ECB) took a dovish stance on policy and its ongoing stimulus program. ECB left its key interest rates unchanged on Thursday. The ECB also reiterated its plan to purchase 60 billion euros worth of government bonds and other assets each month through December.

Most Asian shares declined, taking a breather from recent upmove. US stocks finished mostly lower on Thursday as Home Depot weighed on the Dow, but the Nasdaq bucked the trend to match its best win streak since February 2015 and closed at a record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 28.97 points, or 0.1%, to end at 21,611.78. The Nasdaq Composite Index edged up 4.96 points to close at 6,390, rising for a 10th session in a row. The S&P 500 index slipped 0.38 points to finish at 2,473.45.

Back home, the Sensex rose 124.49 points or 0.39% to settle at 32,028.89, its highest closing level since 17 July 2017. The index rose 157.83 points, or 0.49% at the day's high of 32,062.23. The index fell 95.47 points, or 0.30% at the day's low of 31,808.93.

The Nifty 50 index rose 41.95 points or 0.42% to settle at 9,915.25, its highest closing level since 17 July 2017. The index rose 51.40 points, or 0.52% at the day's high of 9,924.70. The index fell 35.30 points, or 0.36% at the day's low of 9,838.

Among secondary barometers, the BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.04%. The BSE Small-Cap index fell 0.05%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was negative. On BSE, 1,407 shares fell and 1,277 shares rose. A total of 134 shares were unchanged.

The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 4822.21 crore, higher than turnover of Rs 3894.34 crore registered during the previous trading session.

Among the sectoral indices on BSE, the S&P BSE Realty index (down 1.1%), the S&P BSE Telecom index (down 1.04%), the S&P BSE Healthcare index (down 0.54%), the S&P BSE Power index (down 0.42%), the S&P BSE Capital Goods index (down 0.32%), the S&P BSE Consumer Discretionary Goods & Services index (down 0.21%), the S&P BSE Utilities index (down 0.18%), the S&P BSE Auto index (down 0.05%), the S&P BSE Basic Materials index (down 0.04%), the S&P BSE FMCG index (up 0.02%), the S&P BSE Metal index (up 0.05%), the S&P BSE Finance index (up 0.07%), the S&P BSE Industrials index (up 0.12%) and the S&P BSE Bankex (up 0.25%), underperformed the Sensex, The S&P BSE Oil & Gas index (up 0.99%), the S&P BSE Consumer Durables index (up 1.09%), the S&P BSE Teck index (up 1.26%), the S&P BSE IT index (up 1.66%) and the S&P BSE Energy index (up 2.24%), outperformed the Sensex.

Most banks declined. Among private sector banks, RBL Bank (down 1.4%), Federal Bank (down 1.3%), City Union Bank (down 0.93%), HDFC Bank (down 0.28%) and Axis Bank (down 0.02%), edged lower. ICICI Bank (up 0.22%), IndusInd Bank (up 0.39%), Yes Bank (up 0.50%) and Kotak Mahindra Bank (up 1.86%), edged higher.

Among public sector banks, Bank of Maharashtra (down 1.21%), Vijaya Bank (down 0.81%), UCO Bank (down 0.73%), Punjab & Sind Bank (down 0.72%), Dena Bank (down 0.59%), Corporation Bank (down 0.49%), Canara Bank (down 0.4%), Central Bank of India (down 0.33%), Bank of Baroda (down 0.12%), State Bank of India (down 0.1%) and Andhra Bank (down 0.09%), edged lower. United Bank of India (up 0.26%), Syndicate Bank (up 0.39%), Allahabad Bank (up 0.49%), Union Bank of India (up 0.68%), Punjab National Bank (up 0.93%), IDBI Bank (up 1.11%) and Bank of India (up 2.38%), edged higher.

Indian Bank fell 0.48% to Rs 328.85 after net profit increased 21.16% to Rs 372.40 crore on 3.79% growth in total income to Rs 4788.04 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016. The result was announced during market hours today, 21 July 2017.

The bank's gross non-performing assets (NPAs) stood at Rs 9653.01 crore as on 30 June 2017 as against Rs 9865.13 crore as on 31 March 2017 and Rs 8894.23 crore as on 30 June 2016. The ratio of gross NPAs to gross advances stood at 7.21% as on 30 June 2017 as against 7.47% as on 31 March 2017 and 6.97% as on 30 June 2016. The ratio of net NPAs to net advances stood at 4.05% as on 30 June 2017 as against 4.39% as on 31 March 2017 and 4.48% as on 30 June 2016. The bank's provisions and contingencies surged 71.59% to Rs 715.55 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016.

IT major Wipro jumped 6.47% to Rs 286.40 after the company at the time of announcing Q1 results said that its board approved buyback of shares up to Rs 11000 crore.

Wipro's consolidated net profit fell 8.13% to Rs 2082.60 crore on 3.09% fall in net sales to Rs 13626.10 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q4 March 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 20 July 2017. The results are as per International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

The company's consolidated revenue from IT services segment in dollar terms rose 0.9% to $1,971.7 million in Q1 June 2017 over Q4 March 2017.

Jatin Dalal, Chief Financial Officer of Wipro said that the impact on operating margins by rupee appreciation and salary increases was partially offset by strong business efficiencies. The company continues to sustain robust cash generation.

Wipro expects revenue from IT Services business to be in the range of $1,962 million to $2,001 million in Q2 September 2017.

Wipro's board of directors approved a buyback proposal of up to 34.37 crore shares (representing 7.06% of total paid-up equity capital) from the shareholders of the company on a proportionate basis by way of a tender offer at Rs 320 per equity share for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs 11000 crore. Promoters have indicated their intention to participate in the proposed buyback.

Ashok Leyland fell 2.64% to Rs 103.15 after net profit fell 61.74% to Rs 111.23 crore on 0.37% decline in total income to Rs 4552.79 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016. The result was announced during market hours today, 21 July 2017.

Ashok Leyland's profitability in Q1 June 2017 was lower, primarily because of a richer mix and exchange gain on swap contracts in Q1 June 2016. The mix is expected to significantly improve in the coming quarters, the company said. The next 3 quarters look promising as the demand is expected to pick up on the back of Government spending on infrastructure as well as positive impact of GST, it added.

Index pivotal Reliance Industries (RIL) advanced 3.76% to Rs 1,586.20 after the company announced during trading hours today, 21 July 2017, that its board of directors recommended 1:1 bonus issue of shares.

The company's consolidated net profit rose 28% to Rs 9108 crore on 26.7% rise in revenue to Rs 90537 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 20 July 2017.

RIL's increase in revenue is primarily on account of increase in prices and volumes of refining and petrochemical products partially offset by lower prices and volumes from exploration and production (E&P) business. Revenue was also boosted by robust growth in retail business which recorded a 73.6% increase in revenue to Rs 11571 crore. Reliance Retail witnessed growth across all consumption baskets during the quarter.

Strong refining and petrochemicals margin environment contributed to higher operating profits for the quarter. Gross refining margins recorded nine-year-high of $ 11.9 per bbl whereas petrochemicals EBIT (earnings before interest and depreciation) margin were at all-time high of 15.8%. Gross refining margin rose to $11.9 per barrel in Q1 June 2017 from $11.5 per barrel in Q1 June 2016.

Meanwhile, the board of directors of RIL considered and approved an investment in Balaji Telefilms (BTL), to acquire 2.52 crore equity shares constituting 24.92% of BTL's equity, through subscription to preferential issue of shares by BTL to RIL for cash consideration of Rs 164 per equity share amounting to an investment of Rs 413.28 crore. This investment in content production (including digital content) is in line with RIL's commitment to invest and grow in telecom digital and media businesses.

Media company Balaji Telefilms rose 0.46% to Rs 187.50 after the company said its board approved preferential issue of 2.52 crore shares of the company at Rs 164 per share, aggregating Rs 413.28 crore to Reliance Industries. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 20 July 2017.

On the macro front, NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind was on Thursday, 20 July 2017, elected as the 14th President of India after receiving an overwhelming majority of votes from the country's lawmakers. Kovind defeated Opposition candidate Meira Kumar, a former Lok Sabha speaker after garnering 66% of the votes in the Electoral College. Kovind received 2,930 votes with a value of 7,02,044. Kovind will be the first BJP member to be elected president. He will be sworn in by the Chief Justice of India JS Khehar in the Central Hall of Parliament on 25 July.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News