Sensex ends 164 points higher, Nifty stops short of 9100; Tata Motors gains 2%

3:30 Market at Close: After witnessing an over 300-point crash on the Nifty on Wednesday, the market on Thursday ended the day on a positive note.

The 30-share Sensex was up 164.48 points at 29332.16, while the Nifty was up 49.80 points at 9080.25. The market breadth was narrow as 1,678 shares advanced against a decline of 1,131 shares. Around 204 shares were unchanged.

Tata Motors, Yes Bank and NTPC were top gainers on both the indices, while TCS, ITC and Eicher Motors were the top losers.

Shares of Hindustan Zinc rose more than 3 percent intraday Thursday as it has declared special one-time interim dividend of Rs 27.50. The company at its meeting held on March 22, has declared special one-time interim dividend of 1375 percent (Rs 27.50) on an equity share of Rs 2, which will entail an outflow of Rs 13985 crore including dividend distribution tax (DDT).

Bhushan Steel added nearly 10 percent intraday as investors placed positive bets on the buzz of the company being acquired by Vedanta. Sources told CNBC-TV18 that Vedanta was in talks with lenders to buy the company as it was keen to enter the steel sector. It may compete with JSW Steel.

3:20 pm SS Mundra on farm loan waiver: The Reserve Bank of India has recommended case-specific waivers as the demand for farm loan waiver extends to other states after Uttar Pradesh's new CM offered to fulfill his electoral promise.

Citing concerns around credit discipline in loan waivers, RBI Deputy Governor SS Mundra said, "Our organisational view had always been that this (loan waiver) can have some concern around credit discipline. I think what is more important is to understand the component and where there is a need and if there is a need, what kind of design could be there which can meet the concern of all the requirements."

Mundra was speaking on the sidelines of a banking event.

2:55 pm JPMorgan on Cipla: JPMorgan believes that Cipla has the right moving parts in the earnings growth story, but will likely be moderate in the near term. The research firm has a neutral call on the stock with a target price of Rs 575.

''The pick-up in US growth momentum remains key for the next leg-up in EBITDA margin over the next two years,'' the research firm said in its report.

On the valuations front, it believes that improvement in operating performance, earnings per growth (EPS) growth and skew towards branded generic businesses are factored in.

2:30 pm Oil rebounds: Oil prices recovered from losses chalked up the session before, but the market remained under pressure as bloated US crude inventories and rising output dampen OPEC-led efforts to curb global production.

Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil, were at USD 50.81 per barrel, up 0.34 percent, from their last close.

2:15 pm Motilal Oswal on Petronet LNG: Motilal Oswal has reiterated its buy rating on Petronet LNG, the country's largest liquefied natural gas importer, with a target price of Rs 460 (implying 19 percent upside), citing strong demand and higher imports.

"Latest February 2017 data from the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) suggest that LNG imports increased 19.3 percent YoY in February 2017. The surge can be primarily attributed to expanded capacity at Dahej and strong demand due to low LNG prices. Spot LNG prices for April delivery are below USD 6 per mmBtu," it explains.

The research firm remains positive on the prospects of Petronet LNG, saying expansion at Dahej plant will drive volume growth going ahead.

2:00 pm Market Check: The BSE Sensex continued to trade in a tight range since morning, rising 94.05 points to 29,261.73. The NSE Nifty was up 34.15 points at 9,064.60, supported by auto, metals, select IT and banks stocks.

The Nifty Midcap continued outperform benchmarks, up 0.8 percent on strong breadth.

Tata Motors was biggest gainer among Nifty stocks, up more than 3 percent followed by Tata Motors DVR, Wipro, Hero Motocorp and GAIL.

Yes Bank gained nearly 3 percent as sources told CNBC-TV18 that its QIP of USD 600 million will open today. Additionally, the issue also has greenshoe option of USD 150 million.

1:40 pm Buzzing Stock: Bhushan Steel added nearly 10 percent intraday as investors placed positive bets on the buzz of the company being acquired by Vedanta.

Sources told CNBC-Tv18 that Vedanta was in talks with lenders to buy the company as it was keen to enter the steel sector. It may compete with JSW Steel.

The dividend from Hindustan Zinc may give the firm any strength needed to acquire Bhushan Steel.

1:15 pm Market Check: The market witnessed some consolidation after extending its gains in the previous sessions.

The 30-share Sensex was up 92.01 points at 29259.69, while the Nifty was up 33.05 points at 9063.50. The market breadth was narrowing as 1,641 shares had advanced against a decline of 951 shares. Around 188 shares were unchanged.

Tata Motors, GAIL, and Yes Bank were among the top gainers, while TCS, ITC and Eicher Motors were the top losers on both the indices.

Yes Bank was on the investors' radar, following buzz of its fundraising plans. Sources told CNBC-TV18 that the bank's qualified institutional placement (QIP) was set to open on Thursday and it planned to raise USD 600 million.

Sadbhav Infrastructure Projects added more than 12 percent intraday Thursday after it was declared lowest bidder by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). The company has been declared lowest bidder for the project of 4-Laning of Waranga to Mahagaon (Pkg-I) section of NH-361 in the State of Maharashtra under NHDP Phase-IV. The project cost is Rs 1071 crore and construction period is 910 days from appointment date.

Hindustan Zinc rose more than 3 percent intraday as it has declared special one-time interim dividend of Rs 27.50. The company at its meeting held on March 22, has declared special one-time interim dividend of 1375 percent (Rs 27.50) on an equity share of

Rs 2, which will entail an outflow of Rs 13985 crore including dividend distribution tax (DDT). The record date for the dividend will be March 30, 2017.

12:47 pm Stake sale: Lenders to Uttam Galva Steels have received two offers to take over the company, reports CNBC-TV18. The lenders plan to meet next week to discuss both offers.

The company was put on the block by lenders in a bid to recover Rs 5500 crore. SBI, which heads the 18-member consortium of lenders, was leading the efforts.

CNBC-TV18 learns one of the offers from AION Capital, which is currently working on the restructuring package. AION, which is a strategic partnership between ICICI Venture and Apollo Global Management, is an approximately USD-825-million fund.

12:35 pm 4 GST bills in parliament?: The government may table four GST supplementary legislations in Parliament today, a union minister said.

"We can do it today as well. A meeting on GST will be chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today," Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal said when asked about tabling of the four GST bills in the Lok Sabha.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an infrastructure event here. The Cabinet on Monday cleared the four GST related bills to enable roll out of the Goods and Services Tax from July 1. The four bills are: the Central Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017, the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017, the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017 and the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to the States) Bill 2017. A source had told that the bills would be introduced as money bills in Parliament this week.

12:20 pm Morgan Stanley on Titan: Morgan Stanley has reiterated Titan Company, the jewellery & watch maker, as top pick and raised target price following increase in earnings estimates for Q4FY17 that will be next catalyst. Investors may be surprised by rapid growth underpinned by market share gains in jewellery and steady expansion in operating margins, it says.

The stock rallied around 50 percent against a 12 percent upside in Sensex over the past three months. While valuation at 30x F2019 is not cheap relative to other stocks, equally they are not at a level that precludes strong shareholder returns, according to the research house.

It says valuation must be viewed in the context of high visibility of strong earnings growth.

12:00 pm Market Check: Benchmark indices maintained morning gains, backed by Tata Motors, Reliance Industries and Infosys. However, gains capped by sell-off in ITC and HDFC Bank.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was up 119.84 points at 29,287.52 and the 50-share NSE Nifty gained 38.30 points at 9,068.75 on short covering.

The broader markets extended gains in noon as the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices gained nearly a percent each. About two shares advanced for every share falling on the exchange.

Reliance Capital, Indian Hotels, Indiabulls Housing, HPCL and MRF were top midcap gainers, up 2-4 percent.

11:44 am Management Speak: In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Achal Bakeri, CMD of Symphony said that summer is expected to be harsh this year.

"We had great summer last year. We were sold out; most of the industry was sold out. So expectations are that this is going to be a good summer", he said.

I am confident that margins will be sustainable at current levels, said Bakeri.

11:30 am Interview: The rupee is reasonably well placed on inflation differential, current account deficit and FDI flow, Lalit Nambiar, EVP & Fund Manager (Equities), Head – Research, UTI Mutual Fund, said.

He also thinks investors are likely to benefit more from stocks related to GST theme.

11:10 am Market Check: After witnessing a correction through the week, the market extended its gains form the morning session.

The 30-share Sensex was up 128.42 points at 29296.10, while the Nifty was up 39.15 points at 9069.60. The market breadth was positive too as 1,598 shares advanced against a decline of 692 shares. Around 130 shares were unchanged.

Gas Authority of India (GAIL), Tata Motors and BPCL were among top gainers on both the indices, while ITC, Eicher Motors and HUL were among the top losers.

The National Stock Exchange on Wednesday introduced futures and options (F&O) contracts in 15 individual securities. These stocks will be available for trading from March 31, 2017.

Reliance Defence, InterGlobe Aviation, PVR, among others will be included in the list. Among financials, Capital First, Muthoot Finance, Equitas Holdings, Ujjivan Financial Services, Max Financial Services and Indian Bank will be included in the list.

Dalmia Bharat, Infibeam Incorporation, Suzlon Energy, Piramal Enterprises, Escorts, and Shree Cements are the other stocks to be included.

10:55 am Stake sale in Axis Bank? The government may sell some of its stake in Axis Bank, Larsen and Toubro and ITC through an exchange traded fund, reports BloombergQuint.

Sources privy to the development say that this ETF would be larger than the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) ETF, a fund unveiled in 2014 that was made up of the government's shares in state-owned companies.

Post the newsbreak yesterday, the price of all three stocks fell.

10:40 am Macquarie on Hindustan Zinc: Macquarie has maintained its outperform rating with a reduced target price of Rs 340. It has also lowered FY18-19 earnings per share (EPS) estimates by 6 percent factoring lower cash.

The research firm believes the dividend cannot be read as a precursor to government stake sale. It, however, makes a strong case for high dividend yield should drive a multiple re-rating.

On the payout, the dividend implies 143 percent payout for FY17. The special dividend is lead by the government's fiscal requirements, it said.

10:20 am Interview: Jewellery companies are in focus as the government has lowered the cap on cash transactions from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Bhaskar Bhat, MD of Titan Company said proportion of cash transactions is coming down significantly.

Government's focus on digitisation and capping cash transaction will benefit company, he added.

He said that cash transactions were at 40 percent before demonetisation.

Q4 has played out well; hold 15 percent topline growth for FY17, said Bhat.

10:00 am Market Check: Equity benchmarks were off day's high in morning due to correction in ITC and HDFC Bank. However, other heavyweights L&T, Reliance Industries, HDFC and Infosys continued to support market.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was up 66.47 points at 29,234.15 and the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 18.65 points to 9,049.10.

Ajay Srivastava, CEO of Dimensions Consulting believes that the market is waiting for a trigger now.

''A major trigger could be results…. the market is waiting for a confirmation from a first few results," he told CNBC-TV18 in an interview. This will then decide the next upward or downward movements, he added.

The broader markets continued to outperform benchmarks, with the Nifty Midcap rising half a percent. About three shares advanced for every share falling on the BSE.

9:42 am F&O additions: The National Stock Exchange on Wednesday introduced futures and options (F&O) contracts in 15 individual securities. These stocks will be available for trading from March 31, 2017.

Reliance Defence, InterGlobe Aviation, PVR, among others will be included in the list. Among financials, Capital First, Muthoot Finance, Equitas Holdings, Ujjivan Financial Services, Max Financial Services and Indian Bank will be included in the list.

Dalmia Bharat, Infibeam Incorporation, Suzlon Energy, Piramal Enterprises, Escorts, and Shree Cements are the other stocks to be included.

9:29 am FII View: Mixo Das of Nomura says Asian equities have posted solid gains this year, against Nomura expectations of a more substantial correction since early February.

He further says investor feedback indicated there is no better time to be bullish than during a simultaneous growth acceleration in all major economies.

A high likelihood of US dollar weakness and generally benign political outcomes seen as positives, he adds.

Das says consensus is compared to other asset classes, equities still look attractively valued. However, Nomura continues to see risk-reward unfavourable on balance, and maintain cautious view on Asian equities, he adds.

9:15 am Market Check: Equity benchmarks opened sharply higher on Thursday after sell-off in previous session but immediately came off day's high amid sideways trade in global peers.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was up 76.94 points at 29,244.62 and the 50-share NSE Nifty gained 22.85 points at 9,053.30 while the broader markets outperformed, rising half a percent.

L&T, Tata Motors, Infosys, Axis Bank and ICICI Bank were top five contributors to Sensex' gains while heavyweights ITC and HDFC Bank were moderately lower.

The Indian rupee opened marginally higher at 65.40 per dollar against previous close of 65.44.

Mohan Shenoi of Kotak Mahindra Bank says the rupee continues to be resilient against the dollar. The USD-INR trading range for the day is seen between 65.30 and 65.60, he feels.

In the currency space, the dollar nudged up from four-month lows against the yen in early trade today, although analysts say US President Donald Trump's struggle to push through a healthcare bill could weigh on any recovery in the greenback.

Asia markets traded sideways after US equities closed mixed as traders await a key US health care vote in Congress, which is seen as a proxy of US President Donald Trump's mandate.