Post Market Commentary - Jan 29 2008

The Indian market closed mixed after a strong rally at the initial stage on the back of favoring global cues. The market takes a u-turn soon after the declaration of the quarterly monetary policy review announced by RBI in which it kept all the key rates- Cash Reserve Ratio, Repo rates, Reverse Repo rates and Bank rates unchanged. But the market was expecting a 25 basis point rate cut by RBI after a sharp rate cut by US last week. The bankex shares that gained the momentum at the early session pared all its initial gains soon after the declaration. However, the Mid Caps and Small Caps outperformed the benchmark indices as most buying was seen from these baskets. The BSE Sensex closed lower by 60.84 points at 18,091.94 while NSE Nifty closed up by 6.7 points at 5,280.80. The BSE Mid Cap and Small Cap indices closed higher by 34.56 points and 74.16 points at 8,021.24 and 10,377.67 respectively.

BSE Metal index grew by 98 points to close at 15,540.75. Scrips that rose are Gujarat NRE (9.44%), Hindalco Industries (3.42%), JSW Steel (3.34%), Tata Steel (2.55%).

BSE Oil & Gas index advanced by 103.66 points to close at 11,181.77. Gainers are Cairn India (6.54%), Essar Oil (4.15%), RPL (1.93%), RNRL (1.39%), ONGC (1.80%).

BSE Auto index closed marginally down by 2.40 points at 4,923.74 as Bajaj Auto (2.82%), Hero Honda (1.60%) closed in red while Cummins Ind (5.13%), Bharat Forge (2.71%), Escorts (2.43%) closed in green.

BSE Capital Goods index closed lower by 154.30 points at 16,962.06. Scrips that fell are Punj Lloyd (4.87%), Bharat Elec (4.46%), Areva (2.71%), L&T (1.94%), Bhel (1.93%).

BSE Bankex index closed lower by 400.80 points at 11,120.42. Losers are BOI (7.12%), Canara bank (6.37%), IOB (6.34%), Oriental bank (5.96%), BOB (5.16%), ICICI bank (4.19%), SBI (3.58%), HDFC bank (3.36%).

BSE Realty index declined by 288.34 points to close at 10,401.07. Scrips that fell are Unitech (5.59%), HDIL (5.47%), Penland (4.05%), Ansal Infrastructure (3.60%) and Omaxe Ltd. (2.12%).