Markets recover somewhat but close in red

After Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh
Ahluwalia assured investors of the strength of the Indian economy, equities markets recovered
somewhat but still closed in the red Wednesday.

After Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh
Ahluwalia assured investors of the strength of the Indian economy, equities markets recovered
somewhat but still closed in the red Wednesday.

After opening weak and going almost through a free fall, the markets recovered somewhat
Wednesday afternoon after Chidambaram told reporters that 'there is a liquidity problem. But, we will
address the liquidity issue."

"The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) governor is already on record. If necessary, he will take further
measures to infuse liquidity,' Chidambaram said.

Ahluwalia said: 'There is nothing to worry about," adding "we have to wait and watch if the US
bailout plan succeeds'.

Ahluwalia had met Chidambaram earlier Wednesday when the Indian rupee also hit a six-year low
going to more than Rs.48 to a dollar.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) closed at 11,328.36,
down 366.88 points or 3.14 percent against its previous close at 11,695.24 points.

"There was tremendous nervousness in the market because despite the hard work being done by
central banks across the world the crisis is refusing to go away and more and more European banks
are getting into trouble," said Jagannadham Thunuguntla, head of the capital markets arm of India's
fourth largest share brokerage firm, the Delhi-based SMC Group.

"Foreign institutional investors FIIs), especially hedge funds and private equity funds are selling
indiscriminately and at any price as they have now come under tremendous redemption pressure,"
Thunuguntla told IANS.

'FIIs have taken out around $10 billion till date. We expect the total outflow by the end of this year to
be $13.5 billion as there is tremendous redemption pressure,' concurred Amitabh Chakraborty,
President-Equities, Religare Securities.

'The FIIs have lost around 48 percent of their capital and 19 percent on the dollar,' he added.

"Together with a major liquidity problem throughout the system there are no buyers even at the
current levels."

Throughout the morning there was all round selling pressure as nervous investors grappled with
more bad news from European banks and continuous problems in the global financial system
despite the best efforts of central banks across the world, analysts said.

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In the morning session, the Sensex at one point went down by more than 902 points or 7.71 percent
to touch 10,782 a level that it had last reached July 31, 2006.

Also, the Sensex went below the 11,000 mark for the first time since Sep, 2006, analysts said.

The broader-based S and amp;P 50-share CNX Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange finished
at 3513.65, down 92.95 points or 2.58 percent from its previous close at 3,606.60.

The BSE midcap index closed at 4,010.48, down 246.68 points or 5.79 percent from its previous
close Tuesday at 4,257.16 points.

The BSE smallcap index closed at 4,699.19, down 277.20 points or 5.57 percent from its previous
close Tuesday at 4,976.39 points.

- Indo Asian News Service

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© Copyright 2006 India PRwire Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
India PRwire disclaims any content contained in press releases published on IndiaPRwire.com. Issuers of press releases are solely responsible for the
accuracy of their content.