Tuesday, 1 September 2015

Sensex Set to Open Lower on GDP Worries, Weak Asian Markets

BSE Sensex and Nifty are set to open lower after data released yesterday showed that Indian economy slowed in the June quarter. Lower Asian markets in the wake of weak China data are also likely to weigh on sentiment. The SGX Nifty was down over 1 per cent at 7,911, indicating a weak start for the Indian markets.

Here are top 10 developments:

1) GDP or gross domestic product data released yesterday showed that Indian economy expanded at an annual 7 per cent rate in the April-June quarter, slower than provisional growth of 7.5 per cent in the previous quarter.

2) The less-than-expected GDP data has however spurred calls for rate cuts from the Reserve Bank of India. The RBI has cut the policy repo rate 75 basis points since January. But it left the rate on hold at its last policy review early this month.

3) Concerns over China slowdown and uncertainties over a possible US Federal Reserve rate hike this month have led to a turmoil in global markets with benchmark indices in different countries logging their biggest monthly losses in August in many years. The Sensex had its worst month in nearly four years.

4) Major Asian markets were lower today following lower closing on Wall Street and weak China economic data. Japan's Nikkei was down nearly 2.5 per cent while overnight the Dow fell over 100 points or nearly 0.70 per cent.

5) In China, the stock markets were down nearly 3 per cent following weak economic data. Activity in China's manufacturing sector contracted at its fastest pace in three years in August, an official survey showed on Tuesday, reinforcing fears of a sharper slowdown in the world's second-largest economy despite a flurry of government support measures.

6) A similar official survey in China on the services sector showed activity was cooling there, too.

7) Coming back to Indian markets, analysts say that unless buying from foreign institutional investors abates, Indian stocks are likely to remain under pressure. Foreign institutional investors hold nearly 25 per cent of BSE 200 stocks.

8) Foreign investors sold Indian shares worth Rs 551 crore on Monday, bringing their total sale figure to nearly Rs 17,000 crore in nine sessions. In contrast, domestic institutional investors have been buyers of Indian equities in the past few days, offering some support to Sensex and Nifty.

9) The value of the rupee would also be under focus with as it impacts the returns of foreign investors in dollar terms. The rupee was trading at 66.41/dollar today as compared to its previous close of 66.48.

10) The monthly auto sales numbers and the August services and manufacturing data for Indian economy would be in focus today.

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