Automakers wreck Sensex drive

Sensex closed 0.7 percent lower,weighed down by automakers...

A steep fall in auto and rate-sensitive stocks cut short the BSE benchmark Sensex’s three-day gaining streak today,with the 30-share index shedding 111 points amid fears of an RBI rate hike tomorrow.

Nevertheless,the Bombay Stock Exchange barometer managed to end above the psychological 18,000-level at 18,020.05,down 110.93 points,or 0.61 per cent.

The wide-based 50-share Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange,too,finished 0.64 per cent down at 5,414.30.

Analysts said the disappointing results from Maruti and Jaiprakash Associates offset an upgrade of the country’s overeign currency rating by ratings agency Moody’s in light of India’s commitment to economic and fiscal reforms.

According to the analysts,the market sentiment was cautious ahead of the Reserve Bank’s key policy meet tomorrow,where the central bank is expected to announce a rate hike to tame inflationary pressure.

Ahead of its June quarter numbers,Reliance Industries,which carries the maximum weight in the Sensex,ended 0.76 per cent lower at Rs 1,052.05. Marketmen said RIL numbers and RBI action will define the market trend tomorrow.

“In what was a rarity in recent memory,India was one of the few markets in Asia that closed in the red,while the rest of the region posted decent gains in the wake of the mostly positive outcome of bank stress tests in Europe and Friday’s rally on Wall Street,” IIFL V-P (Research) Amar Ambani said.

Story continues below this ad

Maruti Suzuki plunged 12.31 per cent,the most in Sensex,to close at Rs 1,191.05,after it posted below expected profit for the June quarter.

“An unexpected increase in the royalty payment by Maruti led to a 20 per cent drop in June quarter profits to Rs 465 crore,” brokerage firm PINC said in a note. The auto major has raised royalty and technology fees to its parent Suzuki from about 3.4 per cent to 5.1 per cent.

Other auto stocks also witnessed selling pressure. Hero Honda sank 7.46 per cent. Marketmen said investors dumped Hero Honda on apprehension that its Japanese JV partner,Honda,might sell a part of its stake in the two-wheeler major.

Tata Motors declined 2.24 per cent and M&M fell 1.16 per cent. Jaiprakash Associates lost 5.75 per cent,after the firm reported a 5 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 515.98 crore for the first quarter ended June 30.

Story continues below this ad

“JPA’s adjusted net profit was below street and our estimates,mainly owing to lower margins in construction division and higher tax charge,” Anand Rathi said in a note.

Rate-sensitive sectors like banking and realty also fell over worries of a rate hike by the RBI for the second time in a month. SBI slid by 3.44 per cent and HDFC 1.12 per cent. Realty major DLF sank 2.89 per cent.

However,Bharti Airtel and Frontline IT stocks were able to defy the general trend and looked up.

Extending last week’s gain Bharti Airtel today jumped 2.1 per cent,the most in the Sensex. On Friday,the stock had gained nearly 4 per cent,after the telecom major said it will make an open offer to buy the remaining 22 per cent stake in Zambia’s leading telecom entity,Zain Zambia.

Story continues below this ad

TCS rose 0.96 per cent,Infosys 0.74 per cent and Wipro 0.24 per cent.

In the Sensex pack,16 scrips ended in red,while 13 rose and HUL remained unchanged.

Vedanta Group firm Sterlite Industries,which today posted about 50 per cent rise in its profit,advanced 0.20 per cent.

On the global front,Asian markets ended in green and European bourses were seen higher in mid-day trade.