Sensex Opens Marginally Up; Axis Bank Shares Rise on Merger Rumors

Wed, 22 Feb 09:30 am

   Previous Close   

   Pre-Open   

   11:30 am   

   01:30 pm   

   Closing   

Asian equity markets are lower today as Japanese and Hong Kong shares fall. The Nikkei 225 is off 0.19% while the Hang Seng is down 0.78%. The Shanghai Composite is trading down by 0.15%. Stock markets in the US ended their previous session on a firm note.

Meanwhile, share markets in India have opened the trading day marginally higher. The BSE Sensex is trading higher by 110 points while the NSE Nifty is trading higher by 29 points. The BSE Mid Cap index and BSE Small Cap index both have opened the day up by 0.1% & 0.3% respectively.

Sectoral indices have opened the day on a mixed note with information technology stocks and consumer durables stocks witnessing selling pressure. While, oil & gas stocks and PSU stocks are among the top gainers on the BSE. The rupee is trading at 66.98 to the US$.

Axis Bank share price began the trading day up by 2%, after the bank described reports of a merger with Kotak Mahindra Bank as 'baseless'. The clarification came even as there was speculation that other private banks, including ICICI Bank, might show interest in the government stake in Axis Bank.

Oil & gas stocks have opened the day on a positive note with Suzlon Energy and Reliance Industries being the most active stocks in this space. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) may take over either Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) or Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) if the Centre's idea of an 'integrated oil major' materialises.

The Economic Times reported that the actual intention behind the Budget announcement by Arun Jaitley is not to create one huge oil firm. Under the plan, explorer ONGC will control HPCL or BPCL, which are refining and distribution companies.

Currently, HPCL and BPCL have the government as the majority shareholder. The plan is to transfer the government's holding to ONGC, which will become the holding firm of one of these companies (HPCL or BPCL). The Centre holds 51.11% stake in HPCL, and 54.93% in BPCL.

The merged entity will span the spectrum of activity from exploration to retail sale. The logic is that when crude oil prices are high, the exploration business does well and when they drop, the distribution business benefits. By combining the two in a single company, the overall profit of the undertaking becomes more stable. Investors benefit from reduced volatility of profits, the reports noted.

Moving on to the news from power stocks. As per an article in The Economic Times, Tata Motors and Volkswagen Group are at an advanced stage of finalising a partnership that can have a wide-ranging impact on India and other emerging markets.

Reportedly, the companies are looking at sharing modular platforms for India and emerging markets. It includes the advanced modular platform (AMP) being developed by Tata Motors. While, Volkswagen may offer technical knowhow on producing multiple models based on modular architecture.

The main idea is to share architectures and capacities and bring in quicker returns on investment through economies of scale.

Moreover, Both the companies are stretched financially (Subscription Required), yet they have no way out but to invest for the future, so partnership was the only way out. Further, with large auto makers already investing in these emerging technologies, it is clear that Tata Motors needs to make the move quickly to avoid losing out the race particularly when also technologically assisted driving can soon become a reality.

Indian M&A activity at an All Time High in 2016

Merger and acquisition activity in India is on a high. The value of M&As that have taken place in 2016 - at US$ 69.75 billion - are the highest on record for the country. This even beats the previous record of US$ 66.96 billion set in 2007.

To know more about the company's financial performance, subscribers can access to Tata Motor's latest result analysis (subscription required) and Tata Motors stock analysis on our website.

Tata Motors share price opened the day up by 0.9%.

For information on how to pick stocks that have the potential to deliver big returns, download our special report now!

Read the latest Market Commentary

Top Gainers TodayTop Gainers over 1-WeekTop Gainers over 1-MonthTop Gainers over 1-YearTop Gainers over 3-YrsTop Gainers over 5-YrsTop Losers TodayTop Losers over 1-WeekTop Losers over 1-MonthTop Losers over 1-YearTop Losers over 3-YrsTop Losers over 5-YrsOnly BuyersOnly SellersMost Active StocksMost Popular Stocks52 Week High Stocks52 Week Low Stocks

INDICESBSE (Rs 0 to 1)BSE (Rs 1 to 2)BSE (Rs 2 to 4)BSE (Rs 4 to 10)BSE (Rs 10 to 20)BSE (Above Rs 20)BSE - AllBSE-30BSE-100BSE-200BSE-500BSE AutoBSE BankexBSE Capital GoodsBSE Consumer DurablesBSE FMCGBSE HealthcareBSE ITBSE MetalBSE Oil & GasBSE PSUBSE TeckBSE RealtyBSE PowerBSE A GroupBSE B GroupBSE Mid-CapBSE Small-CapBSE Basic MaterialsBSE Consumer DiscretionaryBSE IndustrialsBSE UtilitiesBSE Sensex 50BSE Sensex Next 50BSE Bharat 22BSE 150 MidCapBSE 250 SmallCapBSE 250 LargeMidCapBSE 400 MidSmallCapBSE AllCapBSE LargeCapBSE SmallCap SelectBSE 100 LargeCap TMCBSE InfraBSE ManufacturingBSE CPSEBSE Private BankBSE Diversified FinancialsBSE MomentumBSE Low VolatilityBSE QualityBSE Enhanced ValueBSE Divident StabilityS&P BSE IPOBSE SMEIPOBSE 100 ESGBSE CarbonexBSE GreenexNSE (Rs 0 to 10)NSE (Rs 10 to 20)NSE (Above Rs 20)NSE - AllNSE-50NSE ITNSE Nifty Midcap 50NSE JR. NiftyNSE Bank NiftyNIFTY Next 50NIFTY 100NIFTY 200NIFTY 500NIFTY MidCap 100NIFTY SmallCap 250NIFTY SmallCap 50NIFTY SmallCap 100NIFTY LargeMidCap 250NIFTY MidSmallCap 400NIFTY AutoNIFTY Consumer DurablesNIFTY FinanceNIFTY FMCGNIFTY MediaNIFTY MetalNIFTY PharmaNIFTY Private BankNIFTY PSU BankNIFTY RealtyNIFTY Oil & GasNIFTY SME EmergeNIFTY CommoditiesNIFTY CPSENIFTY EnergyNIFTY India ConsumptionNIFTY InfraNIFTY MNCNIFTY PSENIFTY Serv SectorNIFTY100 Liquid 15NIFTY Midcap Liquid 15NIFTY Midcap 150 Quality 50NIFTY50 Equal WeightNIFTY100 Equal WeightNIFTY100 Low Volatility 30NIFTY100 Alpha 30NIFTY Alpha 50NIFTY Dividend Opportunities 50NIFTY High Beta 50NIFTY Low Volatility 50NIFTY200 Quality 30NIFTY 500 Value 50NIFTY 100 Quality 30SECTORSAgricultureAirlinesAluminiumAsset Management CompaniesAutomobilesAuto AncillariesBanks (Private)Banks (PSU)BankingCementChemicalsDefenceDiagnosticsDronesEngineeringElectric VehicleElectric Vehicle BatteryEnergy SourcesESGEthanolFertilizersFintechFMCGFoodGreen HydrogenHotelsInfrastructureInsuranceInvestment and FinanceInvITIT (Large)IT (Others)LogisticsMediaMetalMiningIndia's Big Tech StocksIndian PharmaMNC PharmaPSUPaintPaperPlasticPowerRating AgenciesReal EstateREITsRenewable EnergyRetailingSemiconductorShippingSteelSugarSupply ChainTelecomTextilesTravel Support Services

10 results 25 results 50 results 100 results All results

Indian Share Market Update: Top Gainers and Losers