RBI boost: Sensex hits record closing high

The BSE Sensex and Nifty rose on Tuesday to a record closing high as metal stocks such as Tata Steel surged after surveys showed China’s factory and services sectors had their best performance in months, while the Reserve Bank of India held rates steady and toned down its inflation rhetoric.

The Sensex rose 0.7 per cent to a record closing high of 24,858.59, surpassing its previous milestone set on May 26. The Nifty gained 0.7 per cent a record closing high of 7,415.85, surpassing its previous record hit on May 23. Cement stocks gained on value buying. ACC rose 2.5 per cent and Ambuja Cement ended up 3.7 per cent.

Sugar refiners rose sharply on expectations that the new government would push ethanol blending in petrol and increase the import duty on the sweetener to support local prices, several traders said. Bajaj Hindusthan rose 10 per cent, Dhampur Sugar Mills advanced 10.8 per cent, Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd gained 10.7 per cent, and Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd ended up 7.8 per cent. Zee Entertainment Enterprises gained 2.3 per cent after the RBI on Monday said foreign institutional investors can purchase up to 100 per cent of stake in the company, up from the earlier limit of 49 per cent.

However, bank shares ended mixed after the RBI kept its key policy rate steady and toned down its inflation rhetoric, while cutting the amount of bonds lenders must set aside with the RBI. HDFC Bank rose 0.5 per cent, while Kotak Mahindra Bank ended down 1.5 per cent.