ZCZC
BCN-09
INDIA-MARKETS-SENSEX
Sensex soars over 600 pts on FPI surcharge rollback
Mumbai, Aug 26, 2019 (BSS/PTI) – Domestic equity benchmark BSE Sensex
rallied over 662 points in opening session on Monday after the government
rolled back the enhanced surcharge on foreign portfolio investors, and
unveiled a slew of measures to boost the economy.
The 30-share index, however, pared some gains as investors began booking
profits at higher levels. The index was trading 245.71 points, or 0.67 per
cent, up at 36,946.87 at 0930 hours.
The broader Nifty too surged over 170 points to briefly reclaim the 11,000
mark, but gave up some gains to trade 67.30 points, or 0.62 per cent, higher
10,896.65 in early trade.
In the previous session, the BSE barometer closed higher by 228.23 points
or 0.63 per cent at 36,701.16, and the Nifty rose 88 points or 0.82 per cent
to settle at 10,829.35.
Top gainers in the Sensex pack included SBI, M&M, HDFC twins, Yes Bank,
ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance, L&T, ITC and Axis Bank, rallying up to 3 per cent.
On the other hand, Vedanta, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, Sun Pharma, HCL Tech
and Hero MotoCorp fell up to 4 per cent.
Giving in to the demands of overseas investors, Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman on Friday, after market hours, announced rollback of enhanced
surcharge on foreign portfolio investors (FPIs)levied in the Budget.
The Budget proposal to hike surcharge on FPIs had spooked foreign
investors, who withdrew more than USD 3.4 billion (Rs 24,500 crore) from
domestic equities in July and August. The massive capital outflows also put
pressure on the rupee, which slumped to 72-level against the US dollar last
week.
Foreign portfolio investors sold shares worth a net of Rs 1,737.20 crore on
Friday, while domestic institutional investors purchased shares worth Rs
1,548.49 crore, provisional data showed.
The rupee, meanwhile, depreciated 33 paise against its previous close to
trade at 71.99 in early session.
“The Finance Minister has announced a slew of measures that will go a long
way in addressing the expectations of investors and equally importantly,
improving consumer confidence,” said Sunil Sharma, Chief Investment Officer,
Sanctum Wealth Management.
In large part, financial markets sold off on a disappointing budget.
Investors will draw comfort from the measures announced today and the process
for growth recovery has started, he added.
Elsewhere in Asia, bourses tanked after Donald Trump fuelled the trade war
with China by imposing more tariffs on the nation’s imports.
Exchanges in Hong Kong, Korea, Shanghai and Japan were trading on a
significantly lower in their respective late morning sessions.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.99 per cent lower at 58.22
per barrel.
BSS/PTI/HR/1055