Mumbai: The flagging of stock manipulation and accounting fraud by the US-based Hindenburg Research has prompted the S&P Dow Jones Indices to decide to remove Adani Enterprises from the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices with effect from February 7.
In a statement, S&P Dow Jones Indices said that “Adani Enterprises (XBOM: 512599) will be removed from the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices following a Media & Stakeholder Analysis triggered by allegations of stock manipulation and accounting fraud.”
The removal would mean for Adani Enterprises that the shares of the company would appear lacklustre, particularly to environment-conscious investors as the index represents the top 10 per cent of the largest 2,500 companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index (BMI) based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria.
The relentless selling has now wiped more than US$115bn from the value of Adani companies as the traders sent shares down more than 25% shortly after markets opened in Mumbai on Friday.
The NSE had placed Adani Enterprises, along with Adani Ports & SEZ and Abuja Cements under the additional surveillance measures (ASM) framework on February 2, which means trading in their shares now requires a 100% margin in order to curb speculation and short-selling.
Political opposition groups in India are pressuring parliament to debate the impact of the Adani fraud claims on investors and the country’s banking sector.