Sensex surges past 21,000 as Putin orders troops back to bases: 10 stocks in focus

Even as world stocks are taking a hit, Indian markets are in the green. Russia-Ukraine faceoff is showing no signs of abating, with Moscow tightening its grip on Crimea.

By ET Online | Updated: Mar 04, 2014, 12.49 PM IST

Sensex surges past 21,000 as Putin orders troops back to bases: 10 stocks in focus

NEW DELHI: The Sensex regained 21,000-mark after Russian president Vladimir Putin was quoted by Reuters as ordering troops engaged in military exercises to return to their bases.

In early trade, before this announcement from Putin, the S&P BSE Sensex was bucking the trend as other Asian markets were on the defensive over ensions in Ukraine.

“Nikkei futures in Chicago pointed to a fall of about 0.4 percent in Tokyo shares following a 1.3 per cent fall on Monday, while MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan sagged 0.1 percent,” said a Reuters report.

“The Moscow stock market fell 10.8 per cent, wiping nearly $60 billion off the value of Russian companies, more than the $51 billion Russia spent on the Winter Olympics in Sochi last month,” added the report.

At 11:52 am, the Sensex was at 21,116.72, up 170.07 points, or 0.81%.

The Nifty was at 6,271.05, up 49.60 points, or 0.80%.

Here are 10 stocks which are in focus in trade today:

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd: Foreign share holding limit in Maruti Suzuki India has reached trigger limit and any further investment by FIIs will be allowed only after RBI's approval.

At 10:00 a.m.; the stock was trading 1.2 per cent lower at Rs 1561.

SAIL: State-run SAIL said its sales grew by seven per cent in February to 1.04 million tonnes on higher off-take from domestic and export markets.

At 10:00 a.m.; the stock was trading 1.1 per cent higher at Rs 55.75.

Hero MotoCorp Ltd: The country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp reported a marginal increase in total sales at 5,04,181 units for February. It had sold 5,01,271 units in the same month last year, Hero MotoCorp said in a statement.

At 10:00 a.m.; the stock was trading 0.6 per cent lower at Rs 1944.15.

Ashok Leyland Ltd: Hnduja Group flagship company Ashok Leyland has reported a 21.2 per cent decline in its total sales in February at 7,915 units. The city-headquartered company had sold 10,046 units during the same month of previous year, Ashok Leyland said in a statement.

At 10:00 a.m.; the stock was trading 0.3 per cent lower at Rs 15.50.

Bajaj Auto Ltd: Auto maker Bajaj Auto today reported a 6 per cent decline in motorcycle sales at 2,73,323 units in February. The company had sold 2,91,297 bikes in February last year, Bajaj Auto Ltd said in a release here.

At 10:00 a.m.; the stock was trading 1.1 per cent lower at Rs 1896.45.

Mcleod Russel India Ltd: The tea major announced the acquisition of a tea processing factory in Vietnam for over Rs 5 crore. Mcleod Russel is the world's largest tea producer. It produces about 100 million kgs of high quality tea a year from tea estates in Assam, West Bengal, Vietnam, Uganda and Rwanda.

At 10:00 a.m.; the stock was trading 1.1 per cent higher at Rs 288.

HCC Ltd: Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) has bagged A Rs 903.83 crore order in joint venture with GVPR Engineers Ltd from Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. In a statement issued today, the company said the contract is for diversion of flood water from Sakleshpura (West) to Kolar/Chikkaballapur (East) under Yettinahole diversion project package-4.

At 10:00 a.m.; the stock was trading 4.9 per cent higher at Rs 13.90.

Reliance Industries Ltd: The Comptroller & Auditor General has asked the government to explain why it did nothing more than writing letters to Reliance IndustriesBSE 0.53 % when it thought the company had deliberately suppressed production from KG-D6, but the national auditor accepted that the contractual regime had many deficiencies that made it difficult for the ministry to take action.

At 10:00 a.m.; the stock was trading 0.2 per cent higher at Rs 805.25.

SBI: State Bank of India (SBI) is taking initiatives to reduce bad loans which have reached 5.73 per cent, SBI Managing Director and Group Executive (National Banking), A Krishnakumar has said. All zones have been directed to tighten the recovery of debts and reduce non-performing assets (NPAs), or bad loans, substantially, he said.

At 10:00 a.m.; the stock was trading 0.2 per cent higher at Rs 1522.

Natco Pharma Ltd: In what will bring temporary relief for Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma, the Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a complaint filed by Israel-based Teva Pharma seeking an injunction against Natco’s “manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, export or registering” of Copaxone (glatiramer acetate). The drug is used for treating multiple sclerosis, said media reports.

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