Indian shares echo weakness in Asia; investors await state polls' verdict

December 05, 2018 / in.investing.com / Article Link

* NSE index down 0.3 pct, BSE index 0.42 pct lower

* Election results awaited - analyst

* RBI decision on Wednesday

By Tanvi Mehta

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Indian shares fell on Tuesday tracking weaker sentiment across Asia, as domestic investors remained cautious ahead of election results for some states next week.

The result of elections in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram, among others, are expected to set the tone for the national elections scheduled in May 2019.

Asian shares fell as a relief rally petered out amid rising doubts over whether China and the United States will be able to resolve trade differences. An inverted U.S. yield curve also raised concerns about a possible recession. MKTS/GLOB

"Our markets are underperforming, awaiting (state) election results next week. Other parameters like crude price and trade war concerns have turned positive," said Neeraj Dewan, director, Quantum Securities.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy cannot be hawkish in the inflation scenario and crude scenario, he added, referring to the monetary policy meeting on Wednesday. A Reuters poll of 70 economists predicted the RBI would hold its repo rate at 6.50 percent. broader NSE index .NSEI was down 0.30 percent at 10,850.90 as of 0534 GMT, while the benchmark BSE index .BSESN was 0.42 percent lower at 36,088.50.

Market heavyweights HDFC Bank HDBK.NS and Housing Development Finance Corp HDFC.NS were among the top percentage losers on the index, with shares falling 1.5 percent and 3 percent each, respectively.

Financial stocks dropped, with the Nifty Bank index .NSEBANK down 0.6 percent.

Still, a weaker rupee boosted IT and pharma stocks. Shares of Infosys Ltd INFY.NS rose over 2.5 percent.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd's SUN.NS stock recovered marginally after its management issued clarification on various brokerage and media reports.

Recent News

Market sees gold sector nearing full value overall after target upgrades

August 18, 2025 / www.canadianminingreport.com

Gold stocks gain even as metal pulls back

August 18, 2025 / www.canadianminingreport.com

Gold stocks rocket to new highs, valuations no longer inexpensive

August 11, 2025 / www.canadianminingreport.com

Tariff issue caused by potential definition change of traded gold bars

August 11, 2025 / www.canadianminingreport.com

US BLS head removed after revisions to employment data

August 04, 2025 / www.canadianminingreport.com
See all >
Share to Youtube Share to Facebook Facebook Share to Linkedin Share to Twitter Twitter Share to Tiktok