Nifty gains; lenders lead on continued rate-cut hopes

Reuters Market Eye - The BSE Sensex gains 0.25 percent and Nifty adds 0.21 percent. Lenders continue to gain on rising hopes of an earlier-than-expected cut in interest rates by RBI.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley favours interest rate cut, a newspaper report said on Saturday.

Most external members suggested rate cut in central bank's September Review.

ICICI Bank gains 1.7 percent, while State Bank of India rises 1.2 percent.

Also, the outcome of the two-day U.S. Fed meet due on Wednesday is key for near-term direction.

(Reporting by Abhishek Vishnoi)