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The S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 indexes extended their Budget-day rally to fifth session on Friday after the Reserve Bank of India kept repo rate unchanged at record low of 4 per cent and said it would maintain support for the economy’s recovery from the pandemic by ensuring ample liquidity for markets to absorb a massive government borrowing programme. During the session, Sensex rose as much as 459 points to hit record high of 51,073.27 and Nifty 50 index moved above 15,000 mark for the first time.
The Sensex ended 117 points or 0.23 per cent higher to close at an all-time high of 50,731.63 and Nifty 50 index advanced 29 points to settle at record high of 14,924.25.
“Going forward, the Indian economy is poised to move in only one direction and that is upwards. It is our strong conviction, backed by forecasts, that in 2021/22, we would undo the damage that COVID-19 has inflicted on the economy,” Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said.
The repo rate has been cut by a total 115 basis points since March 2020 to cushion the shock from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Das said all six members of the monetary policy committee (MPC) were unanimous in their decision to keep rates on hold and maintain an accommodative monetary policy and liquidity stance.
The benchmark 10-year bond yield however rose to 6.19 per cent, its highest since August 2020, before retreating slightly to 6.17 per cent as traders were disappointed with the RBI not announcing a calendar for bond purchases.
Seven of 11 sector gauged compiled by the National Stock Exchange ended higher led by the Nifty PSU Bank index’s nearly 4 per cent gain. Nifty Bank, Financial Service, Pharma, Metal and FMCG indexes also rose between 0.7-1.7 per cent.
On the other hand, IT, Media, Auto and Private Bank indexes ended lower.
State Bank of India was top Nifty gainer, the stock rose 11 per cent to settle at record high of Rs 395 a day after it reported better than anticipated December quarter earnings.
Tata Steel, Divi’s Labs, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Dr Reddy’s Labs, UltraTech Cement, ITC, Cipla, HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Sun Pharma and JSW Steel rose between 0.7-5 per cent.
On the flipside, Axis Bank, Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors, UPL, Maruti Suzuki, Coal India, ICICI Bank, Shree Cements, GAIL India and Indian oil were among the laggards.
The overall market breadth was negative as 1,651 shares ended lower while 1,325 closed higher on the BSE.
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