31/12/2015
The key domestic benchmarks are likely to witness a positive opening on the last day of 2015 ahead of the expiry of the December derivatives contracts. The CNX Nifty Index futures for December delivery climbed 0.14 per cent or 11 points at 7,920 at 09:47 am Singapore time, signaling that the Sensex may open higher on Thursday. Volatility may remain high at the domestic bourses as traders roll over their positions on the day of the expiry of the December futures and options (F&O) contracts. Further, many traders may stay on the sidelines amidst the end of the year, weighing on volumes at Dalal Street. Snapping a two-day winning streak, the 30-share Sensex on Wednesday fell 119.45 points or by 0.46 per cent to end at 25,960.03 amidst profit booking ahead of F&O expiry and mixed global cues. The Sensex has fallen 5.6 per cent this year as the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since 2006, making emerging market assets relatively less attractive, while stalled progress over key reforms such as the GST amidst the Modi government’s inability to get them passed in the Parliament, due to its thin numbers in the Upper House, have hurt sentiment.
Asian markets were mixed on the last trading day of the year as worries over China’s economy continued while an oil slump accelerated, dimming risk taking appetite. China’s Shanghai Composite logged slim losses, Hang Seng rose but Japan’s Nikkei 225 was closed due to a holiday. Wall Street ended lower on Wednesday as oil resumed a decline while a surprise drop in US pending home sales signaled a slowing housing recovery in the world’s biggest economy. US pending home sales index fell 0.9 per cent in November 2015 from the previous month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.66 per cent; the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.82 per cent while S&P 500 fell 0.72 per cent.
