Mumbai, India (BBN) – Indian shares hit near 2-week lows in thin trade on Monday, on track for a fourth straight session of losses, as investors stayed on the sidelines in the absence of strong global cues.
Asian shares steadied near four-week lows after China agreed to return the US drone it had seized, reports The Hindu Business Line.
But with expectations of US President-elect Donald Trump’s policies lifting US interest rates and the dollar, shares in many emerging markets are likely to remain vulnerable to possible capital outflows.
“I expect the markets to remain rangebound till the end of January, before the budget is announced,” said R.K. Gupta, managing director of Taurus Asset Management.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is expected to present the annual budget for 2017/18 on February 1.
“Because of lacklusture trade during the holiday season, foreign buyers are expected to withdraw funds from the market throughout this month,” Gupta said.
Foreign investors net sold shares worth $114.55 million this month up to December 15. They have net bought $4.04 billion this year up to the same period.
The broader NSE index was down 0.25 per cent or 20.65 points at 8,118.80 as of 0645 GMT, while the benchmark 30-stock BSE index was down 0.27 percent or 70.70 points at 26,418.86 at about 1.30 pm.
Financial stocks fell, dragged down by HDFC Bank which fell as much as 1 percent, and Axis Bank that lost as much 1.1 per cent. At about 1.30 pm, HDFC Bank was off its lows to quote at Rs. 1,177.30, down Rs. 3.70 or 0.31 per cent. Axis Bank was down 0.85 per cent or Rs. 4 to trade at Rs. 468.75.
Oil refiners such as Indian Oil Corp and Bharat Petroleum Corp were however up after petrol prices were increased by Rs. 2.21 per litre on Friday.
BBN/SS/AD