SENTIMENTS REMAIN BULLISH

Sentiments continue to remain bullish tracking supportive global cues and domestic benchmarks were trading with a lot of traction at this point of time with Sensex trading near its crucial 15,400 mark. Firm Asian equities underpinned sentiment in the region as renewed optimism about the health of the global economy boosted investors' risk appetite. Back home, the market breadth was strong, with the most-weighted firm on the indices, Reliance Industries (RIL), gaining about 2 percent in the trade. Banking major ICICI Bank and vehicle manufacturer Tata Motors also edged higher. Moreover, Software pivotals rose on strong US economic data. The overall market breadth on BSE was widely in the favour of advances which thrashed declines in the ratio of 1437:943, while 117 shares remained unchanged.
The BSE Sensex is currently trading at 15,393.74, up by 218.66 points or 1.44%. The index has touched a high and a low of 15,495.18 and 15,378.19 respectively. 24 stocks were advancing against 5 declining ones on the index, while 1 stock remained unchanged.
The broader indices too trimmed some of its gains; the BSE Mid cap and Small cap indices were trading up by 0.89% and 0.66% respectively.
The top gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were, CD up by 2.77%, Bankex up by 2.55%, Metal up by 1.55%, Power up by 1.42% and Realty up by 1.35%. While, there was no loser on the index.
The top gainers on the Sensex were ICICI Bank up by 5.16%, BHEL up by 3.65%, Tata motors up by 3.14%, Hindalco Industries up by 3.02% and Bharti Airtel up by 2.99%.
On the flip side, Bajaj Auto down by 0.86%, Coal India down by 0.65%, TCS down by 0.58%, Cipla down by 0.12% and Jaiprakash Associate down by 0.09% and were the only losers on the Sensex.
Meanwhile, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has set aside Rs 2,000 crore for building warehouses to help facilitate distribution of food grain under the proposed Food Security Act. Under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), the bank has proposed to provide funds to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore exclusively for construction of scientific godowns across the country in this fiscal.

Further, NABARD is also determined to even finance private entrepreneurs for the first time through banks for the setting up of 'climatic-controlled' godowns under RIDF and is also offering concession of 1.5% in the rate of interest if prompt payment is done by them.

NABARD will provide funds to banks including commercial banks at the rate of 8% instead of 10.5% at present so as to make money available to private entrepreneurs for construction of godowns.
NABARD is set up as an apex Development Bank with a mandate for facilitating credit flow for promotion and development of agriculture, small-scale industries, cottage and village industries, handicrafts and other rural crafts. It also has the mandate to support all other allied economic activities in rural areas, promote integrated and sustainable rural development and secure prosperity of rural areas.
The S&P CNX Nifty is currently trading at 4,613.85, higher by 69.65 points or 1.53%. The index has touched a high and a low of 4,641.30 and 4,601.95 respectively.  42 stocks were advancing against 8 declining on the index.
The top gainers of the Nifty were ICICI Bank up by 5.37%, Sesa Goa up by 4.88%, BHEL up by 4.25%, Reliance Communication up by 3.54% and Tata Power up by 3.40%.
On the flip side, IDFC down by 2.08%, HCL Technologies down by 1.11%, Ranbaxy down by 0.81%, Kotak Bank down by 0.53% and Bajaj Auto down by 0.44% were the major losers on the index.
Most of the Asian equity indices were holding up in green; Hang Seng up by 1.37%, Jakarta Composite was up by 0.86%, Nikkei 225 up by 1.48%, Straits Times up by 1.95%, Seoul Composite up by 3.09% and Taiwan Weighted up by 4.56%.
On the flip side, Shanghai Composite was up by 0.21% was the lone loser amongst Asian pack.