Updated from 5:31 p.m. EDT
Indian markets extended gains for a second day in row Thursday, led by a strong showing by stocks in the technology sector. However, market participants in the region remained cautious on concerns over rising inflation and a U.S.-led global slowdown.
Indian stocks experienced another volatile trading session that saw the Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive Index briefly cross the psychologically important 16,000 level, before closing up 82.15 points, or 0.5%, at 15,832.55.
In the Indian biotechnology sector,
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
(RDY) - Get Report
announced it has purchased Italian generic-drug maker
Jet Generici
for an undisclosed price. The deal was made through Dr. Reddy's Italian subsidiary, Pharma Italia SpA. "We believe this strategic investment will generate substantial opportunities for value creation in one of the fastest growing generic markets of the world," V.S. Vasudevan, president and head of European operations, said in a statement. American depository shares of Reddy's closed up 1.8% at $15.31.
Indian banking major
Icici Bank
(IBN) - Get Report
said it has bought back and retired $50 million of $2 billion 6.625% bonds that were set to mature in 2012. The bonds were originated by Icici's Bahrain branch. Shares of Icici closed essentially flat at $39.40.
Indian global communications firm
Tata Communications
(TCL)
denied rumors Thursday that it was holding talks with Singapore investor
Temasek Holdings
or any private equity firms to sell a stake in its retail and broadband unit, according to
Reuters.com
. Shares of Tata advanced 4% to $27.29.
Leading the Indian ADRs on the upside Thursday were
Satyam Computer
(SAY)
, which rose 4% to $24.26, and
Mahaanagar Telephone
(MTE)
, which advanced 1.9% to $5.20.
Be sure to check out the
at Stockpickr.com every night to find out which stocks in India and China are making big moves and announcing major news.
China Recap
Asian markets advanced Thursday on speculation that Chinese officials will restrain from raising interest rates with China's economy now showing signs of cooling off. Speculation began after the Asian Development Bank (ADB) cut its 2008 growth forecast for China, citing lower demand for exports caused by the global slowdown in countries like the U.S., Japan and Europe.
"Rising inflation, coupled with a more severe than expected deterioration in the global economy and weak property and stock markets, could cap China's growth to 7 percent this year," the ADB said. China's red hot economy grew by 11.4% in 2007.
China's Shanghai Composite Index rose 98.36 points, or 6.5%, to 3,516.33, and the Hang Seng Index advanced 392.20 points, or 1.6%, to 24,264.63. Markets in Hong Kong will be closed on Friday for a holiday.
Chinese language Internet search giant
Baidu.com
(BIDU) - Get Report
is reportedly entering the WiMax search market in Chinese cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen, according to sources close to the situation. American depository shares of Baidu finished up 1.8% higher at $286.64.
Piper Jaffray added Chinese solar company
Yingli Green Energy
(YGE)
to its Alpha List with a buy rating and slapped a $65 price target on the stock. Piper said Yingli has enough polysilicon to last through 2008 and should increase its polysilicon supply for 2009 to 60%. Shares of Yingli traded up by 5% to $21.24.
Elsewhere in the Chinese solar sector,
LDK Solar
(LDK)
announced it has inked a 10-year deal to supply 640 megawatts of multicrystalline solar wafers to Moser Baer Photo Voltaic, a subsidiary of
Moser Baer India
. Shares of LDK rose on the news by 5% to $31.62.
Chinese interactive entertainment media company
Shanda Interactive Entertainment
(SNDA)
confirmed rumors that president Jun Tang has left the company to pursue other interests. Tang will be replaced by Executive Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Qunzhao Tan, a co-founder of the firm. Shanda also named co-founder Danian Chen as the chief operating officer. Shares of Shanda ended down 0.5% at $29.82.
Rumors were circulating that Chinese online game operator
The9
(NCTY) - Get Report
is looking to take a 12.5% stake in South Korean game developer
G10
, a division of online gaming company
T3 Entertainment
, according to
Chineseinvestors.com
. The report said the deal could close in early April, but neither company was responding to the rumors. Shares of The9 closed essentially flat at $20.30.
Leading the advancers among Chinese ADRs were,
Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical
(SHI) - Get Report
, which traded up 7% to $38.20;
Home Inns & Hotels Management
(HMIN)
, which added 6.8% to $22;
China Natural Resources
(CHNR) - Get Report
, which closed up by 6.3% to $20; and
Longtop Financial Technologies
(LFT)
, which ended up 6% to $18.90.
Be sure to check out the
at Stockpickr.com every night to find out which stocks in India and China are making big moves and announcing major news.
For more on Asia, check out
Daniel Harrison's coverage
at
TheStreet.com
.
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