By IANS,
Mumbai : Corporate India provided a much needed boost to investors this week and buying interest at Indian equities markets resurfaced in the wake of a good set of earnings reports, pushing a key index to a 13-month high.
Other Asian markets also provided a prop to their Indian peers, with some key indices touching new highs.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) rose 291.35 points or 1.89 percent over previous Friday’s close and ended trade at 15,670.31 points. This was its highest closing figure since June 17, 2008.
The broader S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) followed the Sensex, moving up 1.5 percent from its last weekly close to end at 4,636.45 points.
Lesser market capitalised scrips did better with the BSE’s midcap index closing 3.52 percent higher than its previous weekly close, while the BSE smallcap index was up 2.57 percent.
Data with markets watchdog Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) showed that foreign funds were net buyers during the week, having bought scrips worth $735.7 million. In July, foreign investors bought a total of $2.28 billion.
“Positive results by corporates is proof that the economy is on the verge of a turnaround. This will continue to help the markets gain momentum,” said Jagannadham Thunuguntla, equity head at SMC Capitals.
Indian equities started the week on a volatile note with the benchmark indices trading in a see-saw like pattern till about Wednesday.
Late buying of heavyweight stocks helped the Sensex recoup most of its losses Monday, though it still ended trade 3.92 points lower after having slipped deep into the red. It ended trade 3.92 points or 0.03 percent lower at 15,375.04 points.
The Nifty, however, closed 0.08 percent higher at 4,572.3 points.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the first quarterly monetary policy review Tuesday, but it turned out be a non-event for the markets with the central bank maintaining a status quo on key policy rates.
The Sensex shut shop 43.1 points or 0.28 percent to close at 15,331.94 points. It had managed to crawl into the positive terrain about an hour before closing bell after languishing in the red for most of the day.
The Nifty too ended in the red, closing 0.18 percent lower at 4,564.1 points.
Profit booking and a crash at the Chinese bourses pulled down the Sensex 158 points into the red Wednesday, even though it managed to salvage some of the losses. It had slipped more than 443 points around noon after Chinese bourses tanked.
The Sensex closed at 15,173.46 points — 158.48 points or 1.03 percent lower than Tuesday’s closing figure. Similarly, the Nifty closed in negative terrain, 1.11 percent down at 4,513.5 points.
Thursday saw the markets welcome a good set of corporate earnings and pushed the Sensex 214.5 points or 1.41 percent higher at 15,387.96 points. A bit of short covering before expiry of the futures and options contract for July also helped the rise.
The Nifty too closed in the positive terrain, 1.28 percent up at 4,571.45 points.
Indian equities were again up Friday, with investors taking cues from a sustained Asian rally and corporates continuing to provide positive earnings results.
The Sensex which opened lower at 15,449.47 points, shut shop at 15,670.31 points — 282.35 points or 1.83 percent higher than Thursday’s closing figure. It was the highest closing since June 17, 2008.
The Nifty moved up as well rising 1.42 percent to 4,636.45 points.
The week’s top gainers on the Sensex were Ambuja Cements (up 14.1 percent), Tata Motors (up 13.1 percent), Tata Power (up 11 percent), TCS (up 9.1 percent) and ITC (up 7.3 percent).
Among losers were Hero Honda (down 7.5 percent), Grasim (down 3.4 percent), Cipla (down 3.1 percent), Reliance Industries (down 3 percent), and Reliance Power (down 2.6 percent).