Biggest Weekly Gain For Sensex Since May 2009; Is There More?

Business

oi-Sunil

By Sunil Fernandes

Published: Saturday, March 5, 2016, 10:08 [IST]

You do not often hear of six per cent gains on the Sensex in a week's time. But, it was true for the Sensex this week, which rallied from the Union Budget low of 22,500 points to a staggering 24,646 points.

It was fast and furious and most analysts did not see it coming. The one reason for the rally was the Union Budget 2016. Investors had sold heavily on fears that the Union Budget may change the norms for the introduction of capital gains on shares from 1 year to 3 years. It was all roumours and no such proposal came through.

This saw heavy buying through the week, in beaten down names. ICICI Bank, which began the week near Rs 188, closed the week at Rs 223, a jump of nearly 20 per cent. Ditto for State Bank of India and some other PSU banking stocks.

In fact, Gyan Sangam meet on how to address the problems of NPAs, also saw PSU banking stocks gaining. The rupee strengthened strongly against the dollar, which gave rise to further gains in stocks. The rupee's rally was largely on the back of the government deciding to adhere to fiscal deficit target in the Union Budget.

Global cues were also extremely strong this week with the US indices closing with gains of 3%. After this stupendous rally, one might see the markets grinding in a tight range. So, it is right to say that the markets may now consolidate in the early part of next week.

Much would depend on how global cues pan out. The US jobs data on Friday was rather strong raising the prospects of further gains for global markets on Monday.

Most of Europe too closed strongly, which could have an impact when trading resumed in the Indian markets on Tuesday. The markets are closed on Monday for a public holiday.

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