Markets choppy due to profit booking

Indian equity markets opened in the green as per the indication from the SGX, but readily slipped into the red, thanks to some listless trading fervour that seems to be more inclined towards profit-booking for the year end rather than any fresh build-ups! However, there are pockets of strength in the market, esp with newsflow around some of these – case in point is the Railway Sector – post the UPA Govt’s announcement to pursue FDI within this citadel of the government, most of the stocks that are present in this segment – the likes of KALINDEE RAIL, TEXMACO, BEML, KERNEX etc have been abuzz! Though it is difficult to correlate any direct benefit to any of these accruing from a proposal of the government to liberalise the sector since it is early days yet and there would be a lot of clarifications that would be required before any fervent buying can be envisaged. The other area of activity seems to be the mining pack – SSLT and NMDC have again started attracting some attention from investors/traders ever since some expectations on the Karnataka mining ban being lifted have surfaced. The rest of the market, barring IT and BANKING seems to be sideways and could continue this way till the resumption of serious participation by institutional investors in the new year! Investment management services and investment strategies have come to hold a lot more importance, given the present state of volatility. Financial Planning Advisors, estate planning services providers and business wealth management provders must make the most of this situation.

Markets seen active as F&O expiry nears

With the F&O expiry for the ongoing Dec series around the corner rollovers have started taking centre-stage in terms of activity by market participants. The initial rollover statistics clearly indicate an all-round participation in the markets, with a higher percentage coming into sectors like REAL ESTATE, CAP GOODS, INFRASTRUCTURE, PHARMA and IT. As far as stock specific activity goes, the heavyweights like RIL, ONGC, TCS, INFY continue to dominate the movement of key indices while its the midcap segment of the market that’s abuzz with a lot of activity. There is continued interest that seems to be growing in the usual suspects – stocks like VIP, VOLTAS, IRB, LICHSGFIN, HAVELLS have all seen significant price-volume action in recent sessions and continue to participate in the momentum. Markets could head slightly higher to the 6350 zone by Thursday, post which, the expectations from the January series will start deciding the future course.

Contemplation on RBI meet and US Fed policy turn market red

Market continues to be in red with a fresh bout of selling pressure on concerns of high inflation and RBI policy meet tomorrow and a key US Federal Reserve policy decision later this week. The S&P BSE Sensex is moving in a narrow range as traders have stayed on sidelines ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's policy meet. Sectoral indices are in the positive terrain except for the S&P Bankex, Realty, Power and Oil & Gas. While Banking shares are witnessing a fall in their prices, Realty sector too is witnessing selling pressure on expectation of a rate hike by 25 bps tomorrow by RBI. On the flip side, defensive Health Care, Technology and Fast Moving Consumer Goods counters are the prominent gainers of the session. Cipla and Ranbaxy are amongst the top gainers on the Nifty today, rising 3 percent and 4 percent, respectively. HDFC Bank was under pressure after the Reserve Bank of India restricted foreign institutional investors from buying additional shares in the country's  second-largest private lender, as their shareholding exceeded limit.

The benchmark 10-year bond yield was trading down 1 basis point on the day at 8.86 per cent in low volumes as investors mostly staying on the sidelines ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy review on Wednesday.  Traders said a 25 basis points hike in the key rates has already been discounted by the market and the tone of the policy statement will be crucial for providing direction