Key benchmark indices reversed early losses to surge to day's high led by IT bellwether Infosys, which reported stronger-than-expected third quarter results before trading hours.
The BSE 30-share Sensex was up 124.32 points, or 1.36 per cent, recovering 199.26 points from the day's low. Recovery in index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) from early slide also aided recovery on the bourses.
India's second largest software services exporter Infosys jumped 5.70 per cent to Rs 1221.15 after it posted a 14.59 per cent QoQ rise in net profit to Rs 1641 crore in third quarter. It was the top gainer from the Sensex pack.
Asian markets were trading mixed today. Key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan were up by between 0.39 per cent and 1.51 per cent. However Japan's Nikkei 225 index slumped 4.11 per cent as exporters were being squeezed not only by slower global demand but also the surging yen currency. China's Shanghai Composite fell 1.19 per cent.
US markets ended lower on Monday as investors worried about the outlook for embattled bank Citigroup and expectations mounted for dismal fourth-quarter earnings. The Dow Jones industrial average plunged 125.21 points, or 1.46 per cent, to 8,473.97. The S&P 500 index declined 20.09 points, or 2.26 per cent, to 870.26, and the Nasdaq composite index slipped 32.80 points, or 2.09 per cent, to 1,538.79.
At 10:25 IST, the BSE 30-share Sensex was up 124.32 points, or 1.36 per cent, to 9,234.37. The Sensex opened 67.69 points lower at 9,042.36. The Sensex lost 74.94 points at day's low of 9,035.11 in early trade. At the day's high of 9,243.42, the Sensex rose 133.37 points in early trade.
The S&P CNX Nifty gained 23.85 points, or 0.86 per cent, to 2,796.25
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive on BSE with 445 shares advancing as compared with 408 that declined. 28 shares remained unchanged.
The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 536 crore by 10:25 IST.
Among the 30-member Sensex pack, 19 gained while the rest slipped.
The strong growth in Infosys' third quarter net profit was mainly due to the depreciation of the rupee against the dollar. The growth in net profit was way above market expectations. The company's revenue rose 6.8 per cent to Rs 5786 crore in third quarter. The revenue growth also surpassed market expectations.
On the flip side, Infosys has cut earnings and revenue in dollar terms for the year ending March 2009 (FY 2009). At the same time, it has raised upwards earnings and revenue guidance in rupee terms for FY 2009
Infosys now expects 27.6 per cent growth in earnings per share at Rs 101.30 for FY 2009, revising upwards from Rs 100.51 projected earlier. The company now expects 29.1 per cent to 30.3 per cent growth in revenue to between Rs 21,552 crore to Rs 21,757 crore for FY 2009, revising upwards from an earlier projected 27.7 per cent to 30.2 per cent growth.
In dollar terms, Infosys now expects 11.1 per cent growth in earnings per American depository receipt to $2.20 for FY 2009, revised downwards from previously projected 12.6 per cent growth. Revenue growth in dollar terms is now expected at 11.8 per cent to 12.8 per cent at between $4.67 billion to $4.71 billion, revised downwards from an earlier estimated 13.1 per cent to 15.2 per cent growth.
India's third largest software services exporter in terms of sales, Wipro, extended on Monday’s around 9 per cent slide, falling 3.83 per cent to Rs 218.65 after the company said during trading hours on Monday that it was barred from bidding for contracts from the World Bank until 2011 after it offered employees of the institution shares in its initial public offering. Wipro's ADR slumped 10.37 per cent on.
India's largest software services exporter by sales TCS was down 2.69 per cent to Rs 498 as fears a weak global economy would cut the amount firms spent on technology offset a weaker rupee.
India's fourth largest software services exporter by sales Satyam Computer Services rose 2.33 per cent to Rs 35.20 on reports the government may provide financial support to the beleaguered firm in order to maintain the company's reputation and run its operations. Satyam's ADR plunged 84.39 per cent on Monday.
Indian rupee weakened today to 48.97/98 per dollar from Monday's close of 48.84/85. A weak rupee benefits IT firms as the sector earns most of its revenues from exports.
India's largest private sector company by market capitalization and oil refiner Reliance Industries (RIL) advanced 2.79 per cent to Rs 1130, rebounding from early low of Rs 1085. The company is reportedly likely to restart crude oil production from its Eastern Offshore KG-D6 block by the month-end, while natural gas from the field will start flowing next month.
India's top oil exploration firm by market capitalisation Oil and Natural Gas corporation (ONGC) fell 0.51 per cent to Rs 649.60. ONGC's overseas arm ONGC Videsh (OVL) has reportedly paid $2.1 billion for the acquisition of UK-listed Imperial Energy and will invest another $500-600 million in the company`s Russian fields to raise production over the next 2-3 years.
Banking stocks extended early losses on worries of rising bad loans in a slowing economy. India's largest private sector bank by net profit ICICI Bank fell 0.46 per cent to Rs 436.20 after its ADR fell 7.31 per cent on Monday. India's second largest private sector bank by net profit HDFC Bank declined 0.54 per cent to Rs 999 after its ADR slipped 5.04 per cent on Monday.
India's biggest bank in terms of total assets and branch network, State Bank of India slipped 0.23 per cent to Rs 1155.25. The bank's Chairman O.P. Bhatt during trading hours on Monday, said the bank has an exposure of about Rs 500 crore to firms with the Maytas tag. Maytas Infra and Maytas Properties are owned by the family of Satyam's Raju.
Bhatt said that the exposure was fully collateralised with no problem as of now. He said the bank was reviewing the exposure.
India's top copper producer by sales Sterlite Industries slipped 4.43 per cent to Rs 261 after its ADR plunged 8.11 per cent. India's top truck maker by sales Tata Motors fell 2.41 per cent to Rs 158.10 after its ADR lost 7.56 per cent on Monday.