Money on the markets

Banking index gains 1.5 pct

It was a good day for banking counters, as the banking index ended with gains of 1.5 percent in a Mumbai market that ended 200 points higher.

HDFC Bank was the top gainer in the index, ending up 4.15 percent, followed by IndusInd Bank which gained 2.4 percent. Federal Bank was the only stock in the index which ended in red.

The banking index is down 5.5 percent in 2011, while HDFC Bank is down 7 percent, and ICICI is down 7.5 percent during the same period.

Do you think banking stocks are worth buying at this stage?

Bank stocks post healthy gains

It was a good trading session for banking counters, with the BSE banking index gaining more than 2 percent and ending as the top sectoral gainer, as fund managers bet the sector would benefit from a booming domestic economy.

Shares in Bank of India gained 5.4 percent to end as the top Bankex gainer, followed by IDBI which gained 4.3 percent.

Among bigger players, ICICI gained 2.5 percent, HDFC Bank was up 2.6 percent, and SBI jumped 3 percent, boosting the Sensex which ended 133 points higher.

Since July, the banking index has gained 20.6 percent. Would you invest in this space right now?

Banking stocks shine in weak market

The BSE Banking Index outperformed other indices on Tuesday, gaining nearly 1 pct in a flat Mumbai market, with stocks like Bank of Baroda and IDBI posting good gains.

Optimism over loan demand in a growing economy is helping banking stocks, but rising interest rates is a concern as this could push up costs for manufacturers and tighten their margins.

Shares in Bank of Baroda surged more than 6 percent while IDBI gained 4 percent. Among the bigger players, ICICI ended marginally higher while top lender SBI ended flat.

ICICI said it was raising its lending rates from Wednesday, following market leader State Bank of India’s similar move.

Do you think banking stocks offer good investment opportunity at this stage?

Weak day for banking stocks

The BSE Banking index ended down 0.6 percent on Friday as the top sectoral loser, with all but one stock in the index ending the day in red.

Top losers included Federal Bank, which slipped 2.3 percent and IDBI, which ended down 1.4 percent. Shares in SBI, India’s top lender, ended down 1 percent.

However, those who have invested in the banking space of late would be happy, as the sectoral index has gained 9.5 percent since July, with stocks such as ICICI gaining 10.4 percent.

Would you take advantage of any fall in this space and buy some banking stocks?

ICICI Bank shares jump

Shares in ICICI Bank rose as much as 4.2 percent in trade before closing 3.9 percent up after the lender posted a 17-percent rise in quarterly net profit on Saturday.

India’s top private lender also forecast a 15-percent credit growth in FY 2011 as loan demand from corporate and mortgage borrowers remain strong.

The stock has generated reasonable returns, gaining 7.3 percent in 2010 and 9 percent since July.

Credit Suisse said on Monday it had raised ICICI Bank to “outperform” from “neutral”.

It also raised the 12-month target price to 1,079 rupees from 826 rupees.

In view of Credit Suisse’s new price target, would you invest in this stock at this stage?

Banking index gains

The BSE Banking index rose nearly 1 percent on Thursday as banks shrugged off rising trend in rates and climbed on hopes robust economic growth will boost demand for loans.

Federal Bank shares gained 2.6 percent and ended as the top gainer in the index, followed by Bank of Baroda which gained 2.5 percent.

Shares in ICICI, India’s top private sector lender, ended nearly 2 percent higher.

A Reuters poll has shown that the RBI may hike interest rates again by September. Would you invest in banking counters at this stage?

Banking counters under pressure

Various banking stocks were under pressure on Monday on concerns the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would further hike interest rates.

The Bankex closed down 0.84 percent with 12 of 17 components in red.

Allahabad Bank and Bank of Baroda were the worst performers in the index, losing over 3 percent. Bigger players like ICICI Bank dropped 1.2 percent while SBI slipped 0.7 percent in trade.

Five stocks in the index including private sector lender HDFC Bank ended the day in green.

The RBI had hiked its short term borrowing rates on March 19 and the central bank is expected to increase rates further in April, according to a Reuters poll.

The earning season kicks off on Tuesday. In such an environment, would you place your bets on banking stocks?

Mixed day for banks, HDFC Bank down 3 pct

The BSE banking index fell 0.55 percent on Tuesday after gaining 3.7 percent over the last four sessions.

Shares in HDFC Bank slipped 3 percent in trade and ended as the top Sensex loser.

The benchmark Sensex too ended a four-session rally, closing 121 points lower at 17590.

The other prominent losers were Axis Bank, which slipped 2.2 percent, and SBI which ended 0.6 percent lower.

Some smaller peers however had a good day. Bank of India vaulted over 5 percent to the top of the bankex gainers list, while Karnataka Bank gained 2.3 percent.

Seeing the current interest rate environment and with the Reserve Bank widely expected to increase rates in April, will you invest in this sector?

Banking counters soar

Banking stocks kicked off the week on a positive note, with good results from some banks sending the BSE banking index up 2.4 percent.

The Bankex was also the top sectoral gainer on the BSE.

Shares in HDFC Bank topped the list of Sensex gainers with a jump of 4.5 percent. Allahabad Bank added 4.8 percent to emerge as the top Bankex gainer.

ICICI Bank, India’s top private lender, gained 2.6 percent, while SBI ended 0.6 percent higher.

Private lenders HDFC Bank and Axis Bank posted a more than 30 percent rise in December quarter net profit last week.

The banking index has added 1.2 percent this year. Would you invest in banking counters at this stage?

Mixed day for banking stocks

The BSE banking index ended marginally lower on Wednesday as the Sensex slipped over 150 points, but some banking stocks still managed to post decent gains.

Leading the pack was Indian Overseas Bank which jumped over 7 percent, and Federal Bank which gained 3.1 percent. Bigger peers like SBI and ICICI ended the day in the red.

Nine of the 18 components in the banking index managed to close positive.

The banking index has gained over 100 percent since April, with stocks such as ICICI surging over 150 percent and SBI rising 100 percent in the period.

Banking stocks have risen recently on higher advance tax payments by banks and a correction in valuation of small banks.

Which banking stock would you invest in right now?