5 Fears For Friday's Market

The US dollar is trading heavily against the major and most emerging market currencies.  Even though Tokyo markets were closed, the dollar extended its pre-weekend losses against yen in Asian activity before steadying in the European morning.

By Equitymaster: The Indian stock markets had a lackluster outing on the bourses today, post the central bank's 0.5% rate cut yesterday. After opening above the dotted line, markets remained above yesterday's close for most of today's session.

By Equitymaster: Indian stock markets had a rather volatile outing on Wednesday. The indices began the day's proceedings on a positive note, and managed to hold on to their gains in the morning session. However, weak third quarter GDP numbers released later during the day dampened sentiments on the bourses.

By Aggressive Dividends: The healthcare sector sustained only minor spending cuts when the debt reduction ‘super committee’ failed to agree on what and how much should be cut – but the issue will be back on the chopping block in 2013. This means that while some view the healthcare sector as a strong defensive play with steady profit regardless of market cycle – slow national growth coupled with the need to cut debt could hurt this sector much like a cyclical.

Equitymaster submits: Indian markets had a rather volatile outing today. While the morning session saw them languishing in the red, buying at lower levels picked up in the ensuing hours and pushed the indices above the dotted line. But the later hours saw profit booking once again take its toll and the markets were pushed back into the red. There was a surge in buying in the final hour which ensured a positive close for the markets.

Equitymaster submits: Indian markets had a volatile trading session today. After languishing in the red in the morning session, strong buying activity post noon pushed the indices above the dotted line. However, in the final hours, markets were struggling to stay afloat. While the BSE Sensex closed higher by around 10 points (up 0.1%), the NSE Nifty gained around 7 points (up 0.1%). More interest was seen in midcap and smallcap stocks as the BSE Midcap and BSE Smallcap notched gains of 1% each.

Equitymaster submits: It was a highly volatile trading session on the bourses today. While markets traded in the red in the morning session, strong buying activity in the ensuing hours pushed the indices above the dotted line. Since then they oscillated to either side of yesterday's close before closing marginally into the red. While the BSE Sensex closed lower by around 2 points, the NSE Nifty lost around 8 points. Midcap and small cap stocks were not spared either as they lost around 1% each.

The Mole submits: Nasty end to a rollercoaster week as sovereign debt worries continued to trump some decent US economic data Friday. Crude oil slipped below $70bn and the Euro slumps sub 1.23 versus the USD as investors realize the solutions to the current fiscal crisis are all growth negative. I’d thought Friday would be a relatively quiet holiday thinned session but it pretty much all ended in tears.