Rate cut hopes buoy Indian equities

Hopes of a monetary policy easing, coupled with broadly positive global cues, along with rupee appreciation marginally lifted the Indian equity markets during the mid-afternoon trade session on Tuesday.

The key Indian indices traded in the green, as healthy buying was witnessed in oil and gas, banking and IT stocks.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged up by 27 points or 0.33 per cent to 8,155.75 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 26,403.62 points, traded at 26,432.73 points (at 1.45 p.m.) -- up 83.63 points or 0.32 per cent from the previous close at 26,349.10 points.

The Sensex has touched a high of 26,502.43 points and a low of 26,393.99 points during the intra-day trade so far.

The BSE market breadth was skewed in favour of the bulls -- with 1,633 advances and 828 declines.

"The markets traded on a flat-to-positive note following largely positive global indices and the rupee gaining momentum," Astha Jain, Senior Research Analyst at Hem Securities, told IANS.

"Investors' sentiments are buoyant on the hopes of a repo rate cut by the RBI by 25 basis points."

According to Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, IT, oil-gas, cement and power stocks traded with firm sentiments.

"However, banking, pharma, textile and aviation stocks traded with bearish sentiments," Desai said.

"Auto and media-entertainment stocks witnessed resistance at higher levels due to profit booking."

On Friday, the equity markets closed on a higher note, as investors' sentiments were buoyed on hopes of a monetary policy easing and positive global cues.

The barometer index was up 118.44 points or 0.45 per cent , while the NSE Nifty rose by 41.95 points or 0.52 per cent.

--IANS

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