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Asian stock markets are higher today as Chinese and Hong Kong shares show gains. The Shanghai Composite is up 1.5% while the Hang Seng is up 2.1%. The Nikkei 225 is trading up by 5.7%. Meanwhile, the Dow soared on Tuesday to its biggest one-day percentage gain since 1933, after US lawmakers said they were close to a deal for an economic rescue package in response to the coronavirus outbreak, injecting optimism following the biggest selloff since the financial crisis.
Back home, India share markets gained in the opening session. The BSE Sensex is trading up by 517 points while the NSE Nifty is trading up by 133 points. The BSE Mid Cap index and BSE Small Cap index opened down by 0.6%.
Sectoral indices are trading mixed with IT stocks and healthcare stocks witnessing buying interest. Automobiles stocks and capital goods stocks are trading in the red.
Note that, since the coronavirus outbreak, all BSE indices and NSE indices are down in the range of 25-35%.
Speaking of sectoral impact, in the article titled: Worst Hit Indian Sectors Amid Coronavirus Pandemic: 10 Points to Know, we dive deeper and look at how the impact has been on individual sectors...
The rupee is currently trading at 73.37 against the US$.
Gold prices are currently trading up by 0.5% at Rs 41,379.
Gold and silver continued their gaining streak on Tuesday amid flight from risky assets like equities, maintained the heightened demand for gold.
With businesses shut in several cities in India amid rising threat of coronavirus, investors are shunning equity markets.
This has led to diversion of funds to precious metals, especially when they have come down from historically high levels.
Gold futures were up 0.8% or Rs 476 to Rs 41,639 per 10 grams. Silver futures were up 5% or Rs 1,875 to Rs 39,787 per kg yesterday.
Speaking of gold, how lucrative has gold been as a long-term investment in India?
The chart below shows the annual returns on gold over the last 15 years...
As you can see, barring just two years - 2013 and 2015, gold has delivered positive returns in 13 of the last 15 years.
Here's what Ankit Shah wrote about this in one of the editions of The 5 Minute WrapUp...
Meanwhile, in one of his latest videos, Vijay Bhambwani shares his view on gold and silver prices. He talks about how the bullion prices will move in the short term.
You can check the same here: Will Gold and Silver Prices Fall because of the Coronavirus?
Moving on to the news from FMCG sector. Hindustan Unilever (HUL) signed an agreement with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals to acquire its intimate hygiene brand VWash.
The deal includes acquisition of intellectual property rights including trademarks, design and know how related to the VWash brand.
The consideration has been split into two parts involving an upfront cash payment upon closing of the deal and a deferred consideration over the next three years.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals will continue to manage the business until the transaction is completed and will also continue to manufacture for the company for an agreed period of time.
HUL share price opened the day up by 0.1%.
To know what's moving the Indian stock markets today, check out the most recent share market updates here.
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