Indian share markets ended their trading session on a positive note today.
Benchmark indices edged higher, tracking overnight gains in the US market and positive Asian stock markets.
Further, talks of an economic stimulus for small businesses battered by the coronavirus outbreak improved sentiment.
Reportedly, the government may unveil fiscal stimulus amounting to 0.3% of the country's gross domestic product, focusing on small and medium-sized businesses, real estate firms and banks.
At the closing bell, the BSE Sensex stood higher by 199 points (up 0.6%) and the NSE Nifty closed higher by 52 points (up 0.6%).
SGX Nifty was trading at 9,260, up by 64 points, at the time of writing.
The BSE Mid Cap index ended up by 0.1%, while the BSE Small Cap index ended the day down by 0.5%.
On the sectoral front, gains were seen in the energy sector and FMCG sector, while power stocks witnessed selling pressure.
Asian stock markets finished on a strong note as of the most recent closing prices.
The Hang Seng was up 1% and the Nikkei was trading higher by 2.6%. The Shanghai Composite was up 0.8%.
European markets were trading on a positive note. The DAX was trading up by 0.8%, while the CAC 40 was trading up by 0.7%.
The rupee was trading at 75.55 to US$ at the time of writing.
Gold prices are currently trading up by 0.2% at Rs 46,274.
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Speaking of the current stock market scenario, Indian stock markets have seen a stunning recovery over the last 5 weeks.
From its all-time high levels of 42,274 touched on January 20 this year, the Sensex crashed 39% to a multi-year low at 25,639 on March 23. Later, the index made a rapid recovery till April 30 as it added 4,250 points.
Thereafter, in just two sessions of this month, Sensex lost 7%.
Excluding this week's 7% fall, of all the rebounds after a 35%-40% fall in the market, the current one has been the biggest by a distance.
This is evident from the chart below:
Sensex: From Bear to Bull in 30 Days
While the Sensex has rebounded sharply, there are still many stocks out there that are trading at attractive valuations.
History has shown that after years like the one we had just now, the next 3 years are good for the markets. In fact, these corrections are the rare times when you find businesses with solid fundamentals at reasonable valuations.
If you can find good businesses that can survive the current crisis, you will do well in the long run.
Moving on, market participants were tracking Shree Cement share price, TCI Express share price, and SBI Cards and Payment Services share price as these companies announced their March quarter results (Q4FY20) today.
In news from the banking sector, RBL Bank share price was in focus today.
The private lender on Thursday reported a 54% decline in its March quarter net profit to Rs 1,143 million on the back of higher provisions.
The bank's total provisions trebled on a year-on-year (YoY) basis and stood at Rs 6.1 billion in Q4FY20. It holds Rs 1,079.5 million of provisions in excess of what RBI has mandated for COVID-19 related moratorium.
The lender logged a 37% YoY growth in its operating profit at Rs 7.7 billion compared to Rs 5.6 billion a year ago.
The bank's total revenue jumped 33% YoY to Rs 15.2 billion from Rs 11.5 billion reported in Q4FY19.
RBL Bank's net interest margin (NIM) stood at 4.93% in the March quarter. Its net interest income (NII) grew 38% YoY to Rs 10.2 billion in Q4FY20.
The bank's deposits fell 1% to Rs 578.1 billion in Q4FY20. Current and savings account (Casa) deposits grew 17% and 2% sequentially to Rs 171.1 billion in the March quarter.
The private lender's advances increased by 7% to Rs 580.2 billion.
For the financial year 2019-20, the bank's total income stood at Rs 55.4 billion, up 39% YoY from Rs 39.8 billion, while its operating profit jumped 42% YoY to Rs 27.5 billion.
To know more, you can read RBL Bank's Q4FY20 result analysis on our website.
Moving on to news from the pharma sector, shares of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories rallied 8% today to hit a 52-week high of Rs 4,132, after the company received the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from US health regulator for its manufacturing plant at Srikakulam.
In a regulatory filing, the company said it has received EIR from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), for the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) manufacturing plant at Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh (CTO VI).
The site was issued a warning letter in November 2015 after the inspection in 2014 and was under the "Official Action Indicated" classification till now.
Dr Reddy's Laboratories share price ended the day up by 3.8%.
In other news, Laurus Labs share price witnessed selling pressure today. The stock of the company slipped 10% today after more than 30 million equity shares of the pharmaceutical company changed hands via multiple block deals.
As much as 19.1 million shares were traded on BSE, while on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), about 15.3 million shares changed hands.
Last week, the company had reported its consolidated net profit at Rs 1.1 billion, which more than doubled from Rs 430 million reported in the year-ago quarter.
The company's board also recommended for the sub-division of equity shares of the company from the existing face value of Rs 10 each to the face value of Rs 2 each, subject to regulatory approvals.
And rightly so, most pharma companies have re-emerged as the safer bets for investors in the ongoing market turmoil. Last month, the Indian rupee touched a new record low of Rs 76.92 against the US dollar. Most pharma companies generate their revenues through exports. Hence, a depreciating rupee is a positive development for them.
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