Indian equities recover marginally as RBI maintains status quo (Third Lead)

Indian equity markets on Thursday recovered marginally after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintained status quo on interest rates in its first bi-monthly monetary policy review of the 2017-18 fiscal.

Negative global cues and heavy selling pressure in consumer durables, healthcare and FMCG sectors hampered investors' sentiments and the key indices provisionally closed the day's trade on a flat-to-negative note.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) slipped down by 3.20 points or 0.03 per cent to 9,261.95 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 29,946.89 points, provisionally closed at 29,927.34 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 46.90 points or 0.16 per cent from the previous close at 29,974.24 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 29,954.25 points and a low of 29,817.59 points during the intra-day trade.

In contrast, the BSE market breadth was marginally bullish -- with 1,476 advances and 1,403 declines.

On Wednesday, healthy inflow of foreign funds, along with positive tax collection data and global cues elevated the Indian equity markets to close at new highs.

--IANS

ppg/vt