For the second consecutive day, the Multi Commodity Exchange of India stock tumbled at the bourses. The MCX stock on Friday crashed 4.5 per cent to Rs 970.10 after attempts by NYSE-Euronext on Thursday to sell its entire stake failed because of a poor response from investors.
Meanwhile, according to block deal data on the BSE, Merrill Lynch Holdings (Mauritius) offloaded nearly two per cent stake or 10.19 lakh shares in the commodity bourse for about Rs 104 crore. Private equity major Blackstone picked up those shares at an average price of Rs 1,020.
As of December quarter, Merrill Lynch Holdings (Mauritius) held 24.42 lakh shares or 4.79 per cent stake in MCX.
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NYSE Euronext had acquired the stake in MCX in June 2008. The stock has been under pressure following the Union Budget 2013-14 proposal to levy a 0.01 per cent commodity transaction tax on non-agricultural commodities futures.
Trading in commodity derivatives will not be considered as a ‘speculative transaction’ and CTT shall be allowed as deduction if the income from such transaction forms part of business income, the Finance Minister had announced .