OIL TANKS ON OPEC STATUS QUO; Q2 GDP IN FOCUS AT HOME
WORLD MARKETS
US
markets were closed yesterday for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.
Nymex
crude nosedived $4.64 or 6.3% to $69.05 a barrel and brent crude plunged $5.2
to $72.6 a barrel to a fresh four-year low under $75 a barrel after OPEC
decided not to cut production, despite a huge oversupply in world markets.
These are the lowest levels for Nymex crude since May 2010 and for Brent oil
since August 2010.
European
markets, except a marginally lower FTSE, gained between 0.2%-0.8%. FTSE was
pressured by fall in oil and gas stocks on account of plunge in oil prices.
German inflation data came in at 0.5% in November, its lowest level since
February 2010. Final gross domestic product data for Spain showed growth of
1.6% in the third quarter compared to the same period last year.
In
prepared comments for a speech, ECB President Draghi said that the governing
council was unanimous in its commitment to use further instruments if needed
but added that monetary policy alone cannot do all the heavy lifting.
AT HOME
Benchmark indices
ended higher by a fifth of a percent after a choppy expiry session, extending
the rising streak to second day. Sensex gained 53 points to settle at 28439
while Nifty finished at 8494, up 18 points. BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices
outperformed yet again, rising half a percent each. BSE IT and Power indices
gained the most among the sectoral indices, rising 1.1% and 0.8% respectively
while Consumer Durable and Realty indices lost 1% and 0.3% respectively.
FIIs net
bought stocks and index futures worth Rs 390 cr and 2187 cr respectively but
net sold stock futures worth Rs 706 cr. DIIs were net buyers to the tune of Rs
337 cr.
Rupee
depreciated 3 paise to close at 61.875/$.
The
Reserve Bank of India yesterday issued final guidelines for companies seeking
to set up payments banks and small finance banks in a bid to expand banking
services to more people and small businesses. Elaborating the eligibility
criteria, the central bank has included non-bank prepaid card issuer, mobile
companies, telecom companies, business correspondents, PSU companies, real
sector cooperatives and supermarket chains as promoters of payments banks, while
it has allowed NBFCs, MFIs and local area banks to convert to small banks.
Payment
banks can take demand deposits of maximum Rs 1 lakh per customer and can issue
ATM/debit cards but not credit cards. Also, they can offer payments, remittance
services and can distribute financial products like mutual funds and insurance.
However, the RBI has made it clear that payments banks cannot undertake lending
activities. Small finance banks are aimed at lending to “unserved and
underserved sections including small business units”, the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) said.
OUTLOOK
Today morning, barring
a modestly lower Hang Seng, other Asian markets are trading with modest gains
and SGX Nifty is suggesting about 35 points higher opening for our market.
After rebounding
from our indicated 8430 support on Tuesday, Nifty has moved up to 8494 in last
two sessions and is set to open with an upward gap today, giving more credence
to the 8430 support and vindicating our view.
After 8520 target
was achieved, we have been working with a fresh target of 8640. That continues
to be the next level to eye once 8535, the top made on Tuesday is taken out.
India's second
quarter GDP data would be released today and is expected to show a growth of 5%
as against 5.7% in the previous quarter and 5.2% in the same quarter last month.