MUMBAI, Feb 3 (Reuters): India's benchmark BSE index fell 1.5 per cent
on Monday to its lowest close in nearly 2-1/2 months as foreign
investors continued to sell as part of a slump in emerging markets,
hitting blue chips such as ICICI Bank.
Although India is seen in a better position than other countries such as Turkey due to its improved current account deficit and foreign exchange reserves, the country is being hit nonetheless.
Foreign institutional investors sold shares worth a net $93 million on Friday, taking the total sales to $523 million in six sessions, regulatory data showed.
Indian markets will thus continue to be beholden to global risk factors, including concerns about the Federal Reserve's withdrawal in monetary stimulus and an economic slowdown in China.
Fund investors worldwide pulled $6.4 billion out of emerging market stock funds in the week ended Jan. 29, marking their biggest outflows since August 2011, data from a Bank of America Merrill Lynch report showed on Friday.
"I think this EM-led risk aversion could last till March-end. Probably after that the market would focus on the political alliances and upcoming elections," said G Chokkalingam, founder of research and fund advisory company Equinomics.
The benchmark BSE index fell 1.48 per cent, or 304.59 points, to 20,209.26, closing at its lowest since Nov. 13.
The broader NSE index lost 1.44 per cent, or 87.70 points, to 6,001.80, ending at its lowest since Nov. 22. Both indexes posted their sixth fall in seven sessions.
Shares weakened even as a survey on Monday showed Indian factories started 2014 on a high note, with activity growing at its fastest pace in nearly a year as domestic and overseas orders increased.
Blue chips, which are most vulnerable to foreign selling, led declines. ICICI Bank fell 2.5 per cent, while Tata Motors Ltd slumped 3.8 per cent. Infosys Ltd fell 1.9 per cent and ITC Ltd lost 1.5 per cent.
Although India is seen in a better position than other countries such as Turkey due to its improved current account deficit and foreign exchange reserves, the country is being hit nonetheless.
Foreign institutional investors sold shares worth a net $93 million on Friday, taking the total sales to $523 million in six sessions, regulatory data showed.
Indian markets will thus continue to be beholden to global risk factors, including concerns about the Federal Reserve's withdrawal in monetary stimulus and an economic slowdown in China.
Fund investors worldwide pulled $6.4 billion out of emerging market stock funds in the week ended Jan. 29, marking their biggest outflows since August 2011, data from a Bank of America Merrill Lynch report showed on Friday.
"I think this EM-led risk aversion could last till March-end. Probably after that the market would focus on the political alliances and upcoming elections," said G Chokkalingam, founder of research and fund advisory company Equinomics.
The benchmark BSE index fell 1.48 per cent, or 304.59 points, to 20,209.26, closing at its lowest since Nov. 13.
The broader NSE index lost 1.44 per cent, or 87.70 points, to 6,001.80, ending at its lowest since Nov. 22. Both indexes posted their sixth fall in seven sessions.
Shares weakened even as a survey on Monday showed Indian factories started 2014 on a high note, with activity growing at its fastest pace in nearly a year as domestic and overseas orders increased.
Blue chips, which are most vulnerable to foreign selling, led declines. ICICI Bank fell 2.5 per cent, while Tata Motors Ltd slumped 3.8 per cent. Infosys Ltd fell 1.9 per cent and ITC Ltd lost 1.5 per cent.
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