Markets sink as stimulus hopes dim

Mumbai: Equity markets closed deep in the red on Thursday after top government officials virtually ruled out a stimulus package for slowdown-hit sectors, triggering another round of selling in banking, auto and metal stocks.

A weakening rupee, which hit its lowest level in eight months, and lacklustre global cues further weighed on investor sentiment, traders said. The 30-share BSE Sensex sank 587.44 points, or 1.59 per cent, to finish at 36,472.93.

The broader NSE Nifty slumped 177.35 points, or 1.62 per cent, to 10,741.35. Both the key indices closed lower for the third straight session.

Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy Subramanian on Thursday said using taxpayers' money to bail out companies going through a 'sunset' phase will create moral hazards and such a step is an anathema to the market economy.

Power Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg also said low interest rates and availability of credit to private sector are better tools than a fiscal stimulus.

The comments have dashed hopes of some sort of a stimulus package from the government to boost growth and revive flagging consumer sentiment, analysts said.

Yes Bank was the biggest laggard in the Sensex pack, plummeting 13.91 per cent, followed by Vedanta, Bajaj Finance and Tata Motors, which declined up to 7.76 per cent.

ONGC, SBI, Hero MotoCorp, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, HDFC twins and RIL also closed with losses. Tech Mahindra, TCS, HUL and HCL Tech were the only gainers, spurting up to 1.57 per cent.

"Benchmark indices continue to remain weak with rupee hitting fresh lows and lack of news on the economic stimulus by the government. Investor sentiment was further dampened by statement made by Chief Economic Advisor that Indian economy doesn't need fiscal stimulus to tackle slowdown.

"Besides policy uncertainty on the domestic front, weak global cues, foreign fund flow, currency and oil price movement would further determine the trend of the market," said Hemang Jani, Head - Advisory, Sharekhan by BNP Paribas.

Speaking at an event in Delhi, Subramanian stressed on the cyclical nature of a market economy. "Since 1991 we are a market economy, and in a market economy there are sectors which go on sunrise and then go through sunset phase.

"If we basically expect the government to use taxpayers' money to intervene every time when there are some 'sunsets,' then I think you introduce possible moral hazards from 'too big to fail' and as well as the possibility of a situation where profits are private and losses are socialized which is basically an anathema to way the market economy functions," he said.

Speaking at the same event, Power Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said reduction in interest rates and availability of credit to private sector are better tools than a fiscal stimulus.

Garg, who was Finance Secretary till last month, also said the first quarter GDP number are likely to be lower than the same period last fiscal.

Meanwhile, BSE realty index was the biggest sectoral loser, cracking 6.01 per cent, followed by metal, finance, oil and gas, bankex and energy. IT index was the sole gainer, rising 0.30 per cent, buoyed by a weak rupee.