Atul Auto hits record high after bulk deal

Atul Auto continues to trade on a strong note on the BSE, after foreign brokerage house Goldman Sachs bought a total of 4.05 lakh shares of the Atul Auto in bulk deals on BSE yesterday, 30 December 2014.

The stock has touched a high of Rs. 684 so far during the day - which is a life-time high of the counter.

Now, the share price of Atul Auto has zoomed almost 6 per cent at Rs. 672. On the BSE, so far 241,000 shares were at the counter, as compared to its two-week daily average volume of 130,000 shares.

This morning, the stock started the day at Rs. 638.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex is up 71 points at 27,475.

Top corporate news of the day – December 31, 2014

HUL sells iconic headquarters to HDFC for Rs 300 cr.

Suven Life secures three more patents.

Lupin has received tentative approval from the US health regulator to market a generic version of Prezista tablets, used in treating HIV infection.

Zuari group has decided to buy more shares of Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers (MCF) through the proposed open offer.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) said it bagged contracts worth Rs 2,521 crore in its building and factories business in both domestic as well as international markets this month.

JSW Holdings has sought shareholders' nod for financial transactions worth Rs 2,500 crore with various entities, including group firm JSW Steel.

Airport operator has asked troubled budget carrier SpiceJet to deposit Rs2bn (US$31.5 million) by December 31, failing which the airline could be put in the so-called cash-and-carry mode.

Top economy news of the day - December 31, 2014

RBI hints high rates to continue | No differences:

FDI proposals worth Rs350mn get nod.

Power ministry cancels UMPP bidding; new bid document soon.

Excise duty cuts on consumer durables, cars end today.

Petrol and diesel may get cheaper from midnight.

FinMin for easing of FDI norms in pharma sector.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley might look at higher dividend from public sector undertakings (PSUs) compared to last year.

Govt allows post offices to issue ATM cards and account statements at select branches.

Fund-raising by Indian companies through retail issuance of non-convertible debentures (NCDs) plunged 58% to about Rs73bn in the first nine months of the current fiscal.

Sensex opens on a flat note

At 9:19AM, the S&P BSE Sensex is trading at 27,417 up 14 points, while NSE Nifty is trading at 8,250 up 3 points.

The BSE Mid-cap Index and BSE Small-cap Index was trading flat.

Healthcare, Metal, Realty, Power, Banking, FMCG, Oil and gas indices are the gainers, while Auto, Consumer Durables, Capital Goods, IT, Teck indices are losers.

GAIL, BHEL, COALINDIA,SUNPHARMA,TATASTEEL, Reliance, Hindalco are among the gainers, whereas HDFC Bank, Infosys, Axis Bank, HUL are losing sheen on BSE.

US stocks were lower. The Dow Jones dropped 0.3% while S&P 500 fell half a percent. Nasdaq lost around d 0.6%.

Asian markets too are seeing profit-taking. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index is flat while China's Shanghai index is in the red.

The activity in China's factory sector shrank for the first time in seven months in December, according to reports.The final HSBC/Markit Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for December came in at 49.6, just below the 50.0 level.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley has set the record straight stating that his views need not be regarded as a criticism of the RBI or its governor. Meanwhile, in a report RBI has said, "latest projections suggest that CPI (Consumer Price Index) inflation over the next 12 months may hover around 6% if the international crude prices remain around the current levels and the monsoon next year turns out to be normal". The statement is seen as an indication that RBI may choose to give considerable time before lowering its policy rates.

Wockhardt, Cadila Healthcare and Hospira are reportedly voluntarily recalling certain lots of drugs in the US, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). Lupin has received tentative approval from the US health regulator to market a generic version of Prezista tablets, used in treating HIV infection.

Hindustan Unilever sold its erstwhile headquarters Lever House at Churchgate in south Mumbai to its current tenant, Housing Development Finance Corporation, for around Rs 300 crore.

Zuari group has decided to buy more shares of Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers (MCF) through the proposed open offer.

Sensex to open on a cautious note

One of the best years for the equity market in recent memory comes to an end and investors may be keener on their evening than their day in the market. The Indian markets have experienced six major bull runs since 1991, including the current one. Yet, the fact remains that in terms of returns, the current bull-run has so far delivered the least upside among all the previous bull-runs, which means we probably have a long way to go in the New Year.

After all the hard work through the year, the market appears a bit tired. Fresh positive triggers are elusive for now and big question marks remain on crude, currency and interest rates.

The opening is set to be cautious given the weak global cues. OMCs could swing even as Petrol and diesel may get cheaper from midnight. The Dow Jones dropped 0.3% while S&P 500 fell half a percent. Nasdaq lost around d 0.6%. Asian markets too are seeing profit-taking. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index is flat while China's Shanghai index is in the red.

SEBI has proposed a new set of norms for listing and trading of municipal bonds on stock exchanges so as to channel household investments into urban infrastructure development.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley has set the record straight stating that his views need not be regarded as a criticism of the RBI or its governor. Meanwhile, in a report RBI has said, "latest projections suggest that CPI (Consumer Price Index) inflation over the next 12 months may hover around 6% if the international crude prices remain around the current levels and the monsoon next year turns out to be normal". The statement is seen as an indication that RBI may choose to give considerable time before lowering its policy rates.
Wockhardt, Cadila Healthcare and Hospira are reportedly voluntarily recalling certain lots of drugs in the US, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). Lupin has received tentative approval from the US health regulator to market a generic version of Prezista tablets, used in treating HIV infection.

Hindustan Unilever sold its erstwhile headquarters Lever House at Churchgate in south Mumbai to its current tenant, Housing Development Finance Corporation, for around Rs 300 crore.

Zuari group has decided to buy more shares of Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers (MCF)
through the proposed open offer.

L&T bagged contracts worth Rs 2,521 crore in its building and factories business in both domestic as well as international markets this month.

Auto companies could remain at the receiving end as the government will not extend tax breaks to automakers beyond Dec. 31, a senior government official was quoted as saying.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley might look at higher dividend from public sector undertakings (PSUs) compared to last year. This is apart from the government eyeing deep Budget cuts across ministries and departments, a report stated.

The government has amended Post Office Savings Bank Rules to allow post offices to issue ATM cards and account statements at select branches. Fund-raising by Indian companies through retail issuance of non-convertible debentures (NCDs) plunged 58 % to about Rs 7,300 crore in the first nine months of the current fiscal, a report stated.

US consumer confidence increased in December; the Conference Board, said its index of consumer attitudes rose to 92.6 from an upwardly revised 91.0 the month before. Meanwhile, British house prices rose at their slowest annual rate in more than a year this month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the Ministry of Water Resources to identify river-interlinking projects that could be immediately taken up, according to reports. Modi also called for comprehensive mapping and identification of water bodies across the country.

Minister of Civil Aviation, P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju inaugurated the Meeting of Chief Ministers and State Civil Aviation Ministers in New Delhi to discuss the Draft Civil Aviation Policy and other issues related to civil aviation sector.

Shares of Jindal Stainless hit 10% upper circuit at Rs42 after the company said that that it would de-merge its ferro-alloys, coke oven and stainless steel businesses into three different entities via the slump sale route.

Godrej Properties Limited announced that it has entered into an agreement with Godrej & Boyce (G&B) to develop a new mixed-use project on the property at Pirojshanagar, Vikhroli West, Mumbai.

Shares of Spicejet ended 5% lower at Rs17 after report said that state-run airport operator has asked airline to deposit Rs2 bn by December 31.The airline reportedly failed to submit a cash flow plan to the aviation ministry.

Infrastructure stocks surged after the government approved an ordinance in order to ease the Land Acquisition Act for PPP (Public Private Partnership) and rural infrastructure projects. IRB Infrastructure was up 3% to Rs. 259, while Larsen & Toubro was flat at Rs1498.

Shares of PNB was flat at Rs218 after report said that company may raise funds via QIP or FPO by March end.

Shares of Lupin Ltd will be in focus after the company has received Tentative approval for Generic Prezista Tablets.