Market Pulse

Key benchmark indices hovered in positive zone in morning trade after an initial upmove triggered by positive Asian stocks. At 11:50 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was seen at 34,061.22 up 241.72 points while the Nifty was trading at 10,466.80 up 84.1 Metal and mining stocks gained across the board. Telecom stocks rose.

Domestic stocks edged higher in early trade tracking positive Asian stocks.

The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.95%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.96%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.

The broad market depicted strength. There were more than two gainers against every loser on BSE. 1,548 shares rose and 565 shares fell. A total of 84 shares were unchanged.

Overseas, Asian stocks were trading higher as investors continue to debate the outlook for central bank policy normalization and the impact of higher bond yields. Meanwhile, Japan's core consumer price index rose for a 13th straight month in January, increasing by 0.9% from a year earlier, matching December's rate of growth, data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed today, 23 February 2018.

In US, the Dow and the S&P 500 closed higher while the Nasdaq slipped yesterday, 22 February 2018 as investors grappled with the threat from higher interest rates. On the data front, initial US jobless claims fell by 7,000 to 222,000 in the seven days ended 17 February 2018, marking the second lowest level since the end of the 2007-2009 recession.

Back home, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (up 4.16%), Yes Bank (up 2.39%) and ICICI Bank (up 1.16%) edged higher from the Sensex pack.

Metal and mining stocks gained across the board. Vedanta (up 2.03%), JSW Steel (up 2.42%), Tata Steel (up 3.35%), Steel Authority of India (Sail) (up 3.01%), National Aluminium Company (up 2.15%), Hindustan Zinc (up 2.1%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 3.98%), Hindalco Industries (up 1.77%), NMDC (up 1.46%), Hindustan Copper (up 1.84%) edged higher.

Telecom stocks rose. Bharti Airtel (up 1.81%), Idea Cellular (up 0.55%), Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) (up 1.15%) and Reliance Communications (up 0.91%) rose. MTNL (down 1.86%) fell.

Shares of Bharti Infratel fell 0.57%. Bharti Infratel is a provider of tower and related infrastructure and is a unit of Bharti Airtel.

KSB Pumps gained 1.89% after net profit rose 21.1% to Rs 27.35 crore on 30.9% growth in net sales to Rs 328.19 crore in Q4 December 2017 over Q4 December 2016. KSB Pumps' board recommended dividend of Rs 6 per share for the year ended 31 December 2017. The results were announced after market hours yesterday, 22 February 2018.

Today's Calls:

#How many of you bought the shares of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd today morning at around Rs.444 reading my blog inputs.. Book some profit at around Rs.457 and wait for dips to enter.

#Buy beaten down P C Jewelers Ltd Futures at around Rs.333.15 for a short term target of Rs.377, SL: Rs.326. This stock will give up super duper returns in the short term.

It is pertinent to mention here that the stock of P C Jewelers Ltd fell from around Rs.580 - plus which is made in late January, 2018. However, it will benefit from dilution of Nirav Modi brand, due to elimination one of its major competitors in the gems and jewelry segment.  Moreover, on January 25, 2018 Vakrangee bought 20,00,000 shares of PC Jeweller at Rs.561.71 on the NSE. Earlier, the Delhi-based jewelry retailer PC Jewellers Ltd, denied that there was any reason for having worries that the company may be linked with Vakrangee, another firm that is under the scanner for allegedly manipulating its own stock. Investors were worried because Vakrangee has a tiny stake in PC Jeweler. Also, the company’s finance head Sanjeev Bhatia came on TV at the beginning of this month and said: “We have no business agreement with Vakrangee and none of our promoters have sold any stake in the firm. Besides, With 60% of gold demand coming from rural India, the budget’s focus on boosting rural and farm incomes could benefit companies such as Titan Co Ltd., Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri Ltd., PC Jeweller Ltd.

#Those who are holding the shares of 3i Infotech Ltd (Rs.5.65) should wait for the scrip to give a closing above Rs.6.30 to take fresh positions. This is a wonderful company and long term investors would definitely get benefited.

#Those who are holding the shares of Housing Development & Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL, CMP: Rs.49.90) should add the scrip on every decline with a SL at Rs.47. It is good that it is out of the F&O basket, due to obvious reasons. Now we can look for targets of Rs.91-97-121 in the coming days. Remain invested and average on every dip.

~~with inputs from Capital Market - Live News...