Taxing Budget - Sensex, Nifty come crashing down as Jaitley speaks

The BSE Mid-cap Index is trading down 1.14% at 9,464, whereas BSE Small-cap Index is trading down 1.30% at 9,431.

At 12:31 PM, the S&P BSE Sensex is trading at 22,741 down 413 points, while NSE Nifty is trading at 6,933 down 96 points.

The BSE Mid-cap Index is trading down 1.14% at 9,464, whereas BSE Small-cap Index is trading down 1.30% at 9,431.

SBI, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, ONGC, Dr.Reddy's Lab and Sun Pharma are among the gainers, whereas  ITC, GAIL, HUL, Cipla, Bharti Airtel and Adani Ports are losing sheen on BSE.

Some buying activity is seen in realty, metal, banking, finance, basic materials and capital goods sectors, while FMCG, consumer durables and IT sectors are showing weakness on BSE.

The INDIA VIX is down 1.26% at 21.5875. Out of 1,792 stocks traded on the NSE, 730 declined, 730 advanced and 363 remained unchanged today.

A total of six stocks registered a fresh 52-week high in trades today, while 152 stocks touched a new 52-week low on the NSE.

The Indian rupee opened lower by 7 paisa at 68.69/$ on Monday as against previous close of 68.62/$. On Friday, rupee remained weak in the offshore NDF markets, weighed by the strength in greenback against the basket of currencies.


ITC slipped 1.4% to Rs.287 on BSE. The expectations are that there will be a likely increase in excise duty on cigarette. According to reports, tobacco products may again attract higher taxes in the upcoming Union Budget 2016-17. Highlighting a discrepancy between the existing tobacco prices and rising income levels, the health ministry along with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other public health groups have proposed a hike in taxes of up to 40% for all tobacco products, as per reports.

UltraTech Cement gained 1% to Rs. 2,795 on BSE. The company will acquire Jaiprakash Associates' cement factories in six states for an enterprise value of Rs. 16,500 crore, among the biggest distress sales of assets as India's banks get proactive on bad loans.


Andhra Bank jumped 1.5% to Rs.47.55 on BSE. The bank has informed BSE that the Board of Directors of the Bank has approved raising of equity capital by issuance of 2,88,53,210 equity shares of Rs. 10/- each for cash at Rs. 47.30p. per share (including premium of Rs. 37.30p. per share) as may be determined by the Board in accordance with regulation 76(4) of SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2009 and aggregating upto Rs. 136.48 Crore on preferential basis to Life Insurance Corporation of India subject to Shareholders' approval at the Extraordinary General Meeting proposed to be held on March 21, 2016.