Equity market gains with Nifty closing over 11,000; rupee recovers from record low
Mumbai, July 20: Hopes of political stability as the current government seemed confident of winning the trust vote in parliament lifted investor sentiments in the Indian equity market.
The Nifty 50 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) reclaimed the psychological level of 11,000 points.
According to market observers, recovery in the Indian rupee after it touched a fresh all-time low of 69.12 per dollar earlier in the day also supported investor sentiments.
Index-wise, the broader Nifty50 of the NSE closed at 11,010.20 points -- higher by 53.10 points or 0.48 per cent -- from its previous close of 10,957.10 points.
The barometer 30-scrip Sensex on the BSE, which had opened at 36,377.03 points, closed at 36,496.37 points -- up by 145.14 points or 0.40 per cent -- from its previous session's close of 36,351.23 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 36,567.34 points and a low of 36,335.61 points during the intra-day trade. The BSE market breadth, however, was tilted towards the bears with 1,437 declines and 1,135 advances.
"Market recouped yesterday's losses supported by recovery in rupee and continuing positive momentum in IT and Pharma stocks, said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.
He further said the earnings season will pick up pace in the coming weeks and as a consenses market is expecting 14.7 per cent earnings growth for Nifty50 index stocks.
HDFC Securities' Head of Retail Research, Deepak Jasani said: "Investors were also awaiting the outcome of a no-confidence motion against the NDA government."
On the currency front, the rupee closed at 68.85, appreciating by 20 paise from Thursday's close of 69.05 per dollar.
Investment-wise, provisional data with exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors bought scrip worth just Rs 310.27 crore and the domestic institutional investors sold stocks worth Rs 50.73 crore.
Sector-wise, the S&P BSE IT index gained the most, by 216.77 points, followed by the captial goods index, up 162.36 points and the healthcare rose by 143.15 points.
On the contrary, the S&P BSE auto index declined by 96.19 points, the oil and gas index was down 94.49 points and the metal index fell by 64.93 points.
The major gainers on the Sensex were Sun Pharma, up 2.72 per cent at Rs 559.90; Infosys, up 2.42 per cent at Rs 1,348.35; Reliance Industries, up 2.23 per cent at Rs 1,128.55; ICICI Bank, up 1.84 per cent at Rs 266; and Axis Bank, up 1.36 per cent at Rs 534.45 per share.
The top losers were Bajaj Auto, down 8.73 per cent at Rs 2,841.10; Vedanta, down 2.74 per cent at Rs 202.60; Hero MotoCorp, down 2.48 per cent at Rs 3,373.15; ONGC, down 2.20 per cent at Rs 157.85; and Kotak Mahindra Bank, down 1.24 per cent at Rs 1,333.45 per share.
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Assam: RSS files police complaints against Kharge for 'derogatory' remarks at poll rally
Guwahati (PTI): The RSS on Wednesday said it has filed complaints at two police stations in Assam against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for allegedly comparing the ideology of the organisation and the BJP with a 'poisonous snake' at an election rally.
The complaints were filed to seek legal action over alleged ''derogatory, provocative, and communally sensitive statements made during a recent election rally in south Assam, a RSS spokesman said
In the complaints, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh alleged that the Congress chief had made controversial remarks during an election rally in Nilambazar under the Karimganj South assembly constituency in Sribhumi district.
"If a poisonous snake is moving in front of you while you are offering namaz, you must stop the prayer and rush to kill the poisonous snake first - that is what the Quran prescribes you to do. I tell you that the RSS and BJP are like that same poisonous snake,” Kharge was quoted as saying in the complaints.
The RSS expressed serious concern, claiming that such remarks were "inflammatory in nature and capable of inciting hostility, intimidation, and violence against workers and supporters of the RSS and the BJP".
The complaints pointed out that the statement constitutes a ''corrupt electoral practice under Section 83 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the remarks criminally intimidated the public and promoted enmity between supporters of different political and social groups''.
Describing the ideology of RSS and BJP as “poisonous” and calling for their elimination could encourage "bodily harm against members and supporters of these organisations", the complaints said.
Kharge's remarks attempt to promote ''communal division between Hindu and Muslim communities, potentially disturbing public peace and harmony in Assam and influencing the electoral environment", the RSS said.
The complainants also claimed that such statements might lead to communal tensions or clashes if not addressed promptly by authorities.
The complaints were filed by RSS' North Assam secretary Khagen Saikia at Dispur Police Station and South Assam's secretary Jyotsnamoy Chakraborty at Silchar PS.
The BJP had also filed complaints on the same allegations at the Basishta Police Station here and with the Election Commission on Tuesday.
