Mumbai: The Nifty closed at its highest level in a month on Thursday, led by gains in rate-sensitive stocks such as HDFC after exports data stoked rate-cut hopes. The BSE benchmark index ended above the 19,000 level for the first time since April 2, while the benchmark 10-year bond yields fell to their lowest since July 28, 2010.
Gains also tracked a rebound in European shares as this week's brutal sell-off, provoked by concerns about global economic growth, lured back some investors looking for bargains. Analysts believe the recent slump in global gold and crude prices, if sustained, should wipe out a big portion of India's current account deficit, providing more elbow-room to the central bank to lower rates for the third time this year.
Finance Minister, P Chidambaram, also said on Wednesday that he expected the country's current account deficit for the 2012/13 fiscal year ended March to be around 5 per cent of gross domestic product and perhaps half that amount in one to two years.
"Crash in bullion and crude has resulted in the revival of Indian economy and Indian stock market," said Vijay Kedia, director of private wealth management firm Kedia Securities. Earnings are important, but at this juncture quantum of RBI rate cut would be more crucial to watch, Kedia added.
The benchmark BSE index rose 1.52 per cent, or 285.30 points, to 19,016.46, closing above the 19,000 level for the first time since April 2 and gaining 4.2 per cent for the week. The broader NSE index advanced 1.66 per cent, or 94.40 points, to 5,783.10, marking its highest close since March 18 and gaining 4.6 per cent for the week.
Mortgage lender Housing Development Finance Corp Ltd gained 3.5 per cent, while ICICI Bank Ltd rose 2.3 per cent. IndusInd Bank Ltd rose 7.3 per cent after reporting an about 38 per cent increase in its Jan-March net profit.
Among auto stocks, Tata Motors Ltd rose 4.2 per cent, while Maruti Suzuki India Ltd gained 2 per cent. Oil marketing companies such as Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd gained on hopes the recent slump in crude prices would lower the cost of under-recoveries.
Hindustan Petroleum gained 2.5 per cent, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd rose 1 per cent and Indian Oil Corp Ltd ended 0.6 per cent higher. Shares of auto battery makers gained on expectations of better margins after prices of lead, a key raw material for batteries, tumbled to near October 2012 lows.
Exide Industries Ltd gained 1.3 per cent, while Amara Raja Batteries Ltd rose 2.2 per cent. Infosys Ltd gained 0.5 per cent on value buying after the stock's recent fall on muted revenue guidance for 2013/14. However, among stocks that fell, Wipro Ltd dropped 1.5 per cent a day ahead of its quarterly earnings results.
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