Sensex closes at five-week high; easing inflation aids

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The BSE Sensex rallied on Wednesday to mark its highest close in five weeks as rate-sensitive stocks such as ICICI Bank rose after data showing sharply easing inflation reinforced expectations the central bank will keep interest rates on hold.

ICICI Bank and Housing Development Finance Corp provisionally rose 2.3 percent each.

The Sensex provisionally rose 1.14 percent marking its highest close since December 9, while the Nifty ended up 1.25 percent.

(Reporting by Abhishek Vishnoi; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)