fell 245.6 points or 4.69% to 4,982.60 for the week. The corporate results announced so far have been more or less in line
with market expectations.
The BSE Mid-Cap index declined 244.81 points or 3.38% to 6,992.66 in the week. The BSE Small-Cap index slumped 316.07
points or 3.58% to 8,472.67.
Crude oil for June 2008 delivery hit a record high $125.12 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile
Exchange (NYMEX) on Friday, 9 May 2008 as strong diesel demand outweighed signs of rising OPEC supplies. It is set for
the biggest weekly gain since March last year as concerns about violence in Nigeria may cut-off supplies spurred
speculative buying.
Meanwhile in a meeting held on 8 May 2008, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank both kept interest rates
unchanged at 5% and 4% respectively as expected. Most experts now predict that both central banks are likely to cut rates
by the end of the year to shore up stumbling economies.
The wholesale price index rose 7.61% in the 12 months to 26 April 2008, marginally higher than the previous week's
annual rise of 7.57% government data showed on Friday, 9 May 2008. The rate was the highest since an annual reading of
7.68% on 13 November 2004. Finance Minister (FM), P Chidambaram, on 9 May 2008, said the government has asked
cement companies to reduce prices to curb inflation.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday, 8 May 2008, eased lending norms for infrastructure projects. In a
notification, RBI said bank loans to infrastructure projects would be treated as sub-standard only if commercial
production is delayed by more than two years over the date originally envisaged instead of the present norm of one year.
The market regulator, SEBI, on 5 May 2008 relaxed margining in the cash market segment, which it called as an initial step
towards cross margining in the cash market and futures segment. Cross margin facility will be available in case where a
market participant has a position in the cash market with an off-setting stock futures position in the derivatives segment.
Cross margining benefit will initially be available to institutional investors only.
Indian steel makers on Wednesday, 7 May 2008, agreed to cut prices to support government's efforts to rein in inflation.
The public and private steel makers said they would cut the price of long products used in construction by Rs.2,000 a
tonne, or 5.5%, and that of flat products by Rs.4,000 a tonne, or about 10%. Steel makers have also decided to hold the
price line for the next three months. Steel makers, however, urged the government to discourage iron ore exports and
withdraw the tax on steel exports.
FIIs sold shares worth Rs.75.10 cr. in the first few days in the month of May 2008. They sold shares worth Rs.10433.20 cr.
in calendar year 2008 (CY08) till 7 May 2008. Domestic funds bought shares worth Rs.15.90 cr. in first few days of May
2008.
The BSE Sensex fell 109.22 points or 0.62% at 17,490.90 on Monday 5 May 2008. After trading within a narrow range
earlier in the day, the market declined in late trading as US stock futures indicated a lower opening on Wall Street. Realty
and healthcare stocks outperformed the market. Consumer durables and IT stocks dropped. Small-cap and mid-cap
counters were active throughout the session with their barometer indices outperforming the Sensex.
The BSE Sensex fell 117.89 points or 0.67% at 17,373.01 on Tuesday, 6 May 2008. The key benchmark indices ended lower
as investors resorted to profit booking due to lack of positive triggers in the market. Selling pressure was seen in mid-cap
and small-cap counters with their barometers underperforming the Sensex. Realty and power stocks rose whereas FMCG
and metal stocks gained. IT pivotals recovered at the fag end of the session after the rupee slipped to an 8-month low
against the dollar.
The BSE Sensex fell 33.70 points or 0.19% at 17,339.31 on Wednesday, 7 May 2008. Weakness in Asian markets and a surge
in crude oil prices spoiled the sentiment. IT and Oil & Gas stocks rose whereas capital goods stocks and the shares of PSU
firms suffered the most.
The BSE Sensex fell 258.66 points or 1.49% at 17,080.65 on Thursday, 8 May 2008. The market succumbed to selling
pressure as weak global equities and soaring crude oil prices worried investors. All sectoral indices on BSE, barring the
BSE Metal index, were in the red. Software and banking shares were the worst hit.
The BSE Sensex lost 343.58 points or 2.01% at 16,737.07 on Friday, 9 May 2008. The market tumbled as it was hit by a
series of bad news on the domestic and global front. India's inflation surged to more than 3-year high, global markets
declined and crude oil hit yet another record high near $125 a barrel. All the sectoral indices on BSE, barring FMCG index,
were in the red. Oil & Gas, realty and banking stocks declined sharply.
The Sensex lost 863.05 points to close at 16,737.07 last week. The recent rally in crude oil may weigh on the market
sentiments in coming weeks. The key data that the market will be eyeing at the start of the week is industrial production
data for March 2008 due on Monday 12 May 2008. Industrial production had risen 8.6% in February 2008 bouncing from
January's upwardly revised figure of 5.8%. The market will also track global equities in the absence of major domestic
trigger. The corporate results announced so far have been more or less in line with market expectations. Inflation data will
also be eyed as it remains as a major worry and hindrance for domestic growth. High inflation may compel the
government to take more fiscal measures to rein in prices in addition to a slew of measures taken recently.