Benchmark equity indices remained strong with the Nifty above 10,300-mark. Gains were led by metal, PSU, and realty.

Equity benchmark indices remained strong on positive global cues and on gains in shares of IT, capital goods, oil and gas, power, and teck companies.

RBI keep the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 6%. The reverse repo rate under the LAF remains at 5.75%, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 6.25%.

At 2:44 PM, the BSE Sensex was trading at 33,542, up 543 points, while the Nifty50 index was trading at 10,297, up 168 points.

The BSE Mid-cap and the BSE Small-cap indices were also up 1.68% and 1.67%, respectively.

Varun Beverages Ltd stock added 1.5% after the company said it plans to set-up a greenfield production facility to create in-house production capacity for Tropicana fruit juice, Quaker Oats milk-based beverages, and Gatorade.

Ashoka Buildcon Ltd shares rose 1% after the company said it has emerged as the lowest bidder for projects worth Rs759.84cr from Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd. in UP under the Saubhagya Yojana.

Hindustan Oil Exploration Co. Ltd shares gained 3% after the company said its board of directors approved the acquisition of the entire share capital of Panama-based Geopetrol International from Geofinance Petroleum SA.

Shares of Smartlink Network Systems Ltd shares rose 20% after the company said its board to meet on April 7 to consider share buy-back.

Volatility index India VIX slipped 7.72% to 15.0775.

Hindalco (+5.2%), Tata Motors (+4.4%), Vedanta (+4.2%), Tata Steel (+3.3%), and Indiabulls HF (+3%) were the top gainers on Nifty50.

Infratel (-0.56%), Cipla (-0.50%), and Bharti Airtel (-0.25%) were the top losers.

Out of 2,030 stocks traded on the NSE, 1,460 advanced, 252 declined, and 318 remained unchanged.

A total of 16 stocks registered a fresh 52-week high, while 17 stocks touched a new 52-week low on the NSE.

source: indiainfoline.com