Sensex gains 114 points for the week on exit-poll position

Mumbai: The Benchmark Sensex ended the week green, gaining 113.78 points to finish at 28,946.23, while the broader Nifty closed above the key 8,900-level, trending on BJP-gains in exit poll positions.

The week saw the investor wariness on assembly poll-results of five states, while exit polls declared BJP ahead of other rival parties, traders still preffered to remain cautious till poll-outcome as the market consolidated in a narrow-range momentum.

The market started the week on bullish note with key index marking two-year closing highs of 29K, triggered by approval of final draft of central GST and integrated GST by all powerful GST council, it sidelined the possible March rate hike by the US Fed and temporary suspension of HIB visa.

However, after the initial perk-up, the market took to consolidative mode rest of the week with profit-booking on gains as well as investors opting for wait and watch policy, while giving muted positive thumps-up on BJPs gains in exit-poll results and awaiting for final poll-results outcome.

The ruling BJP in need of majority in the Rajya-Sabha, as the party's win in poll-results would boost the chances of passing key reform bills.

The key indices opened the week higher by 28,859.21 and later rallied to mark two year highs at 29,098.17, it alos eased to 28,815.02 before settling the week at 28,946.23. Showing a moderate gain of 113.78 points, or 0.39 per cent.

The sensex had lost 60.52 points or 0.21 per cent in last week.

The Nifty had also gained 37 points or 0.42 per cent to close above 8,900-level at 8,934.55. It had declined 41.95 points during previous week.

Buying was witnessed in Auto, Banks, Consumer Durables, Capital Goods, FMCG and Power sectors. While, Metals, Realty, HealthCare, Oil&Gas, Power, IT, PSUs segments saw profit-booking followed by MidCap and SmallCap companies shares. 

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth Rs 7,651.68 crore during the week, as per Sebi's record including the provisional figure of March 10.

In the broader market, the BSE Mid-Cap index fell 43.45 points, or 0.32 per cent to settle at 13,365.59. The BSE Small-Cap index fell 15.21 points, or 0.11 per cent to settle at 13,604.96.

Among sectoral and industry indices, auto rose by 1.08 percent, followed by bankex 1.07 per cent, consumer durables 0.82 per cent, capital goods 0.80 per cent, FMCG 0.11 per cent and power 0.05 per cent.

However, metal fell by 4.81 per cent followed by realty 1.20 per cent, healthcare 1.07 per cent, oil&gas 0.72 per cent and IT by 0.49 per cent.

Among the 30-share Sensex pack, 18 stocks advanced and remaining 12 stocks fell during the week.

State Bank of India (SBI) was the top Sensex gainer. The stock rose 2.60 per cent to Rs 272.05. Its board will meet on Wednesday, 15 March, to consider inter raising of funds through equity capital by way of follow-on public offer (FPO)/rights lssue/employees share purchase scheme (ESPS) /employee stock option scheme (ESOS)/qualified institutional placement (QIP)/American depositary receipt (ADR)/global depository receipt (GDR) and any other mode or a combination of these at the appropriate time.

It was followed by Bharti Artl 2.59 per cent, TCS 1.98 per cent, Tata Motors 1.92 per cent, Reliance 1.82 per cent, HDFC Bank 1.72 per cent, L&T 1.56 per cent, Asian Paints 1.52 per cent, Hero Motoco 1.26 per cent and Adani Ports 1.08 per cent.

Gail fell by 27.27 per cent. While, Tata Steel was biggest Sensex loser, its stock fell by 5.49 per cent to Rs 467.80. Tata Steel UK informed employees that it completed the consultation process on a proposal to close the British Steel Pension Scheme to future accrual. During the consultation process the company spoke to more than 4,000 employees at more than 90 face-to-face briefings across the UK. It also received feedback through trade union representatives.

It was followed by Dr Reddy 5.30 per cent, ICICI Bank 1.92 per cent, Lupin 1.68 per cent, Coal India 1.59 per cent, M&M 1.33 per cent and Infosys 1.07 per cent.

The total turnover during the week on BSE rose to Rs 73,598.16 crore from Rs 18,762.16, while NSE fell to Rs 98,019.49 as against Rs 1,20,932.30 crs last weekend.