Monday 18 February, 2008

REPL bonus proposal, FIIs, global cues to drive market

A surprise bonus proposal from the recently-listed Reliance Power is sure to propel market sentiment on Monday. While the global cues are not negative, with the US markets closing flat on Friday, market players are expecting foreign funds to return to the Indian bourses soon. The week would also see the build-up of budget expectations, scheduled during the end of the current month, they said.

On Sunday, RelPower, which was listed on the bourses on February 11 following a highly-subscribed IPO, said it was proposing a bonus issue for non-promoter shareholders and its board would consider the proposal on February 24.

Market players believed this is sure to drive the stock on Monday and is expected to bring it closer to its IPO price of Rs 450 per share from its current price of Rs 385 on the BSE. This particular move coincides with the scheduled opening of the IPO for Rural Electrification Corporation on Tuesday.

On the global markets front, cues are not negative. On Friday, the US markets closed flat and Monday being a holiday there, speculators here could use the extra day to push up shares prices on Monday.

Last week, after two consecutive sessions of fall, the sensex had made a strong recovery in the next three sessions to end 650 points higher on a weekly basis as fears of a severe economic slowdown receded. This, market players believe could bring back the foreign fund managers who have so far this year have mostly been on the selling side.

Institutional dealers and top broking house officials believe unless foreign institutional investors (FIIs) come back to the market, it would be difficult for domestic institutions and retail investors to take the market higher.