Sensex gains marginally to scale new peak after RBI policy decision

Equity benchmark index Sensex registered marginal gains to hit fresh lifetime high on April 05 after the Reserve Bank maintained the status quo on key interest rates

Equity benchmark index Sensex registered marginal gains to hit fresh lifetime high on April 05 after the Reserve Bank maintained the status quo on key interest rates amid a negative trend in global markets.

The six-member rate-setting panel of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on April 05 kept the benchmark interest rates unchanged at 6.5% for the seventh time in a row. It also expressed concerns over food inflation given IMD's prediction of above-normal maximum temperatures during April-June.

The 30-share BSE Sensex inched up 20.59 points or 0.03% to settle at a fresh record of 74,248.22. The index oscillated between the intra-day peak of 74,361.11 and the low of 73,946.92.

The broader NSE Nifty ended with a marginal loss of 0.95 points at 22,513.70. As many as 28 components of the 50-share benchmark ended in the red.

"Although the RBI policy meeting unfolded as anticipated, concerns over food inflation and warnings of a heat wave tampered sentiment," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.

Among the Sensex constituents, 18 stocks closed in negative with UltraTech Cement, L&T, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finance and Tech Mahindra being major laggards.

Other heavyweights like Asian Paints, Maruti, Titan and JSW Steel also saw heavy selling.