26 February 2010

Market gives thumbs up to Budget

FM revises tax slabs

26 Feb 2010, 1220 hrs IST

Giving a relief to the middle class Pranab Mukherjee revised the tax slabs for the next fiscal. Income Tax Ready Reckoner

FM slaps excise duty of Re 1/l on petrol, diesel

26 Feb 2010, 1233 hrs IST
The FM has slapped an excise duty of Re1/l on petrol and diesel. This has led to a ruckus in the parliament.

Middle of road Budget, 6 out of 10: Swaminathan Aiyar

26 Feb 2010, 1324 hrs IST
The ways in which FM has cut the deficit down to 5.5% is expenditure compression, especially non-plan expenditure with only a 6% increase (adjusted for inflation) is hardly anything.

Rise in MAT to impact software firms

26 Feb 2010, 1448 hrs IST
Small and mid-size outsourcing companies function from STPI units and tax benefits under the STPI scheme are getting phased out in 2010-11.


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Market gives thumbs up to Budget


MUMBAI: The market was pleased with Finance Minister’s Budget speech driving equity benchmarks sharply higher in afternoon
trade.

Speaking in parliament, Pranab Mukjerjee said he had laid down a road map for reducing the country's fiscal deficit, which soared to a 16-year high of 6.9 per cent of economic output.

The shortfall would drop to 5.5 per cent in the next fiscal year to March 2011, and then 4.8 per cent in the following 12 months, though there would be no let up in the left-leaning government's focus on huge social programmes.

The Finance Minister also slapped an excise duty of Re 1 per litre on petrol and diesel. This has led to a ruckus in the parliament as the move would accentuate inflationary situation in the country. Some opposition members walked out of the house in protest.

National Stock Exchange’s Nifty surged 2.28 per cent or 110.75 points to 4970.50from its previous close. The index touched a high of 4992 during the course of the Budget proceedings after opening at a low of 4858.45.

Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex was at 16,604.95, higher by 350.75 points or 2.16 per cent. The index rose to a high of 16,669.25 from a low of 16,249.67.

The broader market also participated in the rally. The BSE Midcap Index surged 2.06 per cent and BSE Smallcap Index gained 1.65 per cent.

Sectorwise, the BSE Auto Index advanced 3.99 per cent, followed by BSE Realty which gained 3.71 per cent. BSE Bankex rallied 3.09 per cent and BSE Metal Index rose 2.89 per cent. The BSE IT Index, marginally down 0.25 per cent, was the lone laggard.

Biggest Nifty gainers were Reliance Capital (11.19%), IDFC (7.4%), DLF (7.29%), Tata Motors (5.71%) and Unitech (5.26%).

Tata Power (-4.34%), Ranbaxy Laboratories (-2.6%), HCL Technologies (-1.65%), BPCL (-0.57%) and Infosys Technologies (-0.47%) were trading with losses.

Market breadth on BSE was extremely positive with 1913 advances against 768 declines.

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Sensex cheers Union Budget 2010; auto, metals, banks lead


The benchmark Sensex salutes Union Budget 2010 unveiled by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and rallied over 400 points during the day. Experts say it was a effect of short covering and positive reaction to budget. Technical Analyst, Ashwani Gujral said it’s just a short covering, so those who are long should exit. However, he feels impact of budget is over and the markets will react to the global cues.

Samir Arora of Helios Capital said the markets rallied due to low expectations from the budget. The markets will get back to global cues next week, he says.

The Nifty closed above the 4900 mark but the sell-off and profit booking in ITC on hike in excise, BHEL, Tata Power, TCS, Infosys and ABB erased more than 50% gains from day's high. Even heavyweights came off their day's high on profit booking at higher levels. It seemed that the markets discouted the budget.

Pranab Mukherjee in his second budget announced some positives like gradual reduction in fiscal deficit, cut in surcharge, more allocation for infrastructure development, increase in FY11 divestment target, increase in personal tax slab to Rs 8 lakh etc, which all these pushed the Nifty above 4950 level during the day. However, there were some negatives like hike in excise duties etc.

FM has increased tax slabs for Aam Adami, so that spending will increase. For income upto Rs 1.60 lakh, there will be no tax while there will be 10% tad for income between Rs 1.60 lakh to Rs 5 lakh; 20% tax for income between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh and for income above Rs 8 lakh, there will be tax of 30%.

This will result into an increase in the disposable income of individuals and will boost the spending on necessary as well as luxury goods. Homi P Ranina, Tax Expert, says increase in the exemption limits is on expected lines. According to him, a person earning up to Rs 8 lakh will save Rs 54,000 a year by way of taxes.

The 30-share BSE Sensex closed at 16438, up 184 points and the Nifty was at 4922, up 62 points, as per provisional data. The Nifty March Future was trading with 14 points premium.

25 February 2010

BUDGET 2010

This is what the Economic Survey 2009-10 says

This is what the Economic Survey 2009-10 says!


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A day before the Budget, the Economic Survey on Thursday predicted up to 8.75 per cent growth in 2010-11 while recommending a gradual roll back of stimulus -- a move that could entail hike in excise duty and service tax.

Warning that high double digit food prices could lead to "higher-than-anticipated" general level of inflation, the Survey called for effective steps to be taken to remove supply-side bottlenecks together with other policies.

The Survey said the government policy, other calibrated measures and tax reliefs as contained in the stimulus have helped the economy shrug off effects of slowdown triggered by global financial meltdown in 2008.

The buoyancy in the economy in tandem with reforms would make India possibly the fastest growing economy in the next four years, it said while recommending that there was a need for improving government financial by way of raising tax and non-tax revenues and containing deficit.

Last week, the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council too had suggested partial roll back of stimulus measures, including raising excise duty and service tax rates.

The Survey also echoed this view: "The broad-based nature of the recovery creates scope for a gradual rollback, in due course, of some of the measures undertaken over the last 15-18 months. . . so as to put the economy back on to the growth path of nine per cent annually."

The economy is projected to grow by 7.2 per cent this fiscal with industrial and services sectors growing at 8.2 and 8.7 per cent, respectively. Full recovery is likely over the next two fiscals with up to 8.75 per cent growth in 2010-11 and nine per cent the subsequent year.

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Src: Rediff Money

Market Watch: Stocks to open higher ahead of FnO expiry

Market Watch: Stocks to open higher ahead of F&O expiry



MUMBAI: Stocks are expected to open higher on Thursday as global cues are supportive. However, given the F&O expiry due today, volatility is
likely to continue.

“The market is taking time to consolidate and create a base before we head for a big rally. There is not much momentum seen in the markets ahead of the Union Budget and F&O expiry. Every dip in the market should be used as a buying opportunity around the support levels and every rise should be utilized as selling opportunity unless Nifty manages to hold above 4,950.

For today, support for Nifty seen at 4,805-4,785 and stiff resistance at 4,885 level, if Nifty holds above 4,885 then next level could be 4,950. Sensex is facing a stiff resistance at 16,330 level which is a crucial level to watch out,” said Nirmal Bang Securities.

US stocks climbed higher Wednesday on hopes of more cheap money after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke reassured lawmakers interest rates will remain low.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 91.75 points, or 0.89 per cent, to 10,374.16. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 10.64 points, or 0.97 per cent, to 1,105.24. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 22.46 points, or 1.01 per cent, to 2,235.90.

Asian stocks were trading with minor losses Thursday. The Nikkei edged 0.02 per cent lower, Hang Seng shed 0.75 per cent, Straits Times lost 0.08 per cent and Taiex fell 0.09 per cent.

Back home, markets ended on a flat-to-negative note Wednesday, even as the railway budget was presented. Trade was choppy ahead of expiry of February F&O series Thursday and caution ahead of Union Budget on Friday.

Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex ended at 16,255.97, down 30.35 points or 0.19 per cent. It touched a low of 16187.44 and touched a high of 16328.44. National Stock Exchange’s Nifty closed at 4858.60, down 11.45 points or 0.24 per cent. It touched a low of 4834.65 and high of 4880.55. BSE Midcap Index was down 0.41 per cent and BSE Smallcap Index moved 0.61 per cent lower.



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Heard on the Street



Citi MD quits fin market jungle, heads for the wild



Nikhi Nagle, managing director and head of India equities at Citi, is learnt to have put in his papers, less than a year after taking charge of the broking operations in India. Speculation had been rife ever since Keshav Sanghi was hired as deputy head of India equities, that Mr Nagle may move back to the investment bank’s Hong Kong division.

Rated as one of the best traders in Citi, he was managing the bank’s proprietary book out of Hong Kong, before being made head of India equities in February 2009. Buzz on the Street is that the ace trader will devote time to his wildlife NGO for a while, which aims to increase awareness for India’s forests and tribal population.

Stimulus, but of a different kind

The sudden demand for Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) shares from foreign fund houses on the last day of subscription on Tuesday had tongues wagging. It turns out that the merchant bankers to the issue were subjected to some tongue lashing from senior officials in the divestment ministry for not having done a proper job of hard selling the offering.

The government must have been particularly stung by the fact that lesser-known companies were raising funds with ease, while companies with proven track records like NTPC and REC were being made to look ridiculous. Anyway, the “stimulus” seems to have had an immediate effect, with the lead managers going into an overdrive to drum up interest for the issue.

This is not the first time that merchant bankers are taking it on the chin from the government. In 2004, some prominent investment banks had been hauled by the minister for disinvestment, after it transpired that their broking arms were offloading shares of ONGC, which was in the midst of its follow-on issue.

Oricon Enterprises eyes real estate in Mumbai

Buz is that Oricon Enterprises, a logistics, trading and distribution company, is planning to develop its real estate in Mumbai. According to dealers tracking the stock, the company is planning to construct commercial real estate on its 2-acre plot in Worli, a prime location in Mumbai.

According to punters, the move will increase cash position of the company by about Rs 600 crore. Company officials were not available for comment. Shares of Oricon Enterprises ended 0.4% lower at Rs 348.20 on the BSE.

Contributed by Deeptha Rajkumar, Santosh Nair & Shailesh Menon


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Src: Economictimes, Deadpresident Blog