Sensex gains 207 pts on RBI rate cut

The BSE benchmark Sensex on Tuesday surged 207 points, led by interest-sensitive stocks from realty and banking as RBI cut short term lending rate to boost economic growth.

The BSE 30-share index, which had gained 56 points on Monday, advanced further by 206.99, or 1.21 per cent to 17,357.94.

The NSE 50-share index Nifty shot up 63.50 points, 1.22 per cent to 5,289.70.

The Reserve Bank's slashing of short-term lending rate after a gap of three years by bigger-than-expected 0.50 per cent to 8 per cent brought cheer to the market as the move would reduce the cost of home, auto and corporate loans.

"The repo rate cut will provide the boost to investment as well as send a strong signal that turning around growth is of pivotal importance," CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said.

RBI had raised lending rates 13 times between March 2010 and October 2011 to contain inflation that had been hovering close to double-digit.

Higher openings in European markets further boosted the trading sentiment in the domestic market.

The realty sector index gained the most by adding 2.41 per cent to 1,824.33, followed by metal index, up 2.01 per cent to 11,178.84. The bank index rose 0.79 per cent to 12,123.84.

Major gainers were Infosys, Hero MotoCorp, SBI, ICICI Bank, TCS, L&T, Bajaj Auto, Coal India, Gail India, DLF Ltd and Tata Steel.