Positive macro data, IMF remarks cheer investors

Mumbai, October 16

Stock markets surged to all-time closing highs as positive macro data and encouraging comments by the IMF cheered investors, sending the benchmark BSE Sensex higher by 200 points.

The 30-share index scaled an all-time high of 32,687.32 in early trade before ending up by 200.95 points at 32,633.64, the highest closing level so far.

The broader NSE Nifty zoomed past the 10,200-mark for the first time to hit an all-time high of 10,242.95 in early trade. However, it pared some of gains to settle at record closing level of 10,230.85, up 63.40 points, or 0.62%. It broke previous record high of 10,167.45, hit on October 13.

Market sentiment was buoyant in a truncated trading week ahead of Diwali and encouraging Q2 earnings from oil-to- telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries.

"Optimism over Q2 earnings and positive global cues continued to drive market to fresh highs," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services Ltd.

"Q2 results will gather significance in coming days with the earnings of Index heavyweights and decide the market's momentum," Nair said.

The rupee appreciating further to 64.68 against the dollar (intra-day) at the forex market too fuelled the rally.

Sentiments got a lift after IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Saturday said the Indian economy is on a "very solid track" in the mid-term, triggering all-round buying activity, brokers said.

Wholesale inflation softening to 2.6% from 3.24% in August and exports growing at 25% in September also enthused investors.

Unabated buying by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) helped the key indices scale new highs.

A firming trend at other Asian markets and a higher opening of European shares tracking gains across the US and Asia as investors bet on another strong earnings season, also boosted sentiments.

In the euro zone, stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Paris were up by 0.20% each in early trade. London's FTSE also rose 0.30%.

Among Sensex gainers, Bharti Airtel rose further by 4.96% after the company announced acquisition of Tata group's loss-making mobile telephony business, almost for free, boosting its specturm holding and user base.

Other big gainers included M&M (3.08%), Tata Motors (2.85%), Hindustan Unilever (2.63%), Sun Pharma (2.52%), Cipla (2.42%), Dr Reddy's (1.93%), Bajaj Auto (1.80%), TCS (1.11%), ONGC (1.06%), among others. — PTI