India stocks seesaw after militant attacks, rupee weak
Saturday, 29 November 2008
MUMBAI, Nov 28 (Reuters): India's stock market seesawed but ended slightly higher Friday, while the rupee neared a recent record low in the first day of trade since attacks in the financial capital, Mumbai, which killed at least 145 people.
But bond yields touched their lowest level in more than three years in anticipation of interest rate cuts from the central bank to shore up confidence battered by the global financial crisis and the series of attacks around the city.
Economic growth for the September quarter beat expectations but still slowed to its lowest pace in nearly four years.
People trickled back to work in the business district in the south of the city, although security operations continued into the day in three locations, including two luxury hotels, to flush out Islamic militants and free trapped staff and guests.
"Guns don't control the markets, it's the fundamentals that control the market and today you saw the economic growth numbers that were ahead of the forecast," said Amitabh Chakraborty, president of equities at Religare Securities.
"In the short-term, however, the country's risk premium will go up and it will not be viewed as a safe destination."
But bond yields touched their lowest level in more than three years in anticipation of interest rate cuts from the central bank to shore up confidence battered by the global financial crisis and the series of attacks around the city.
Economic growth for the September quarter beat expectations but still slowed to its lowest pace in nearly four years.
People trickled back to work in the business district in the south of the city, although security operations continued into the day in three locations, including two luxury hotels, to flush out Islamic militants and free trapped staff and guests.
"Guns don't control the markets, it's the fundamentals that control the market and today you saw the economic growth numbers that were ahead of the forecast," said Amitabh Chakraborty, president of equities at Religare Securities.
"In the short-term, however, the country's risk premium will go up and it will not be viewed as a safe destination."