Sensex ends 305 points up; Bharti, Hindalco, HDFC gain

Mumbai: The Sensex posted its biggest daily gain in more than two months as investor sentiment turned positive on growing hopes the government would push through reforms to stimulate growth and avoid a ratings downgrade.

Expectations for higher returns in December also boosted sentiment for shares.

The market also tracked global peers, which rose on new debt targets for Greece and a political agreement on disbursing the next instalment of aid. Sentiment was also helped by ratings agency Moody's maintaining India's rating outlook at stable.

Suzlon surged 11 per cent as the lenders admit Suzlon Energy to CDR Cell seeking to restructure Rs 13,500 crore of company\'s debt.

The market was eagerly awaiting a media briefing by Finance Minister P Chidambaram later in the day.

He is expected to outline the government's steps to push through with economic reforms, though opposition lawmakers are demanding the government roll back its plans to open up the supermarket sector to foreign chains.

Moody's said on Tuesday the outlook on its Baa3 rating for India is stable, citing the country's large, diverse economy and strong gross domestic product growth as supportive of the rating.

"A light market has risen on factors like Greece, increasing support on reforms and Moody's statement. The finance minister's press conference would be a further positive," said Vivek Mahajan, head of research, Aditya Birla Money.

The Sensex was up 1.65 per cent, or 305.07 points, at 18,842.08, its highest close since November 8, and is just 295 points away from year high. Meanwhile, the Nifty gained 1.62 per cent, or 91.55 points, to 5,727.45. Both the indices posted their biggest gains since September 21.

The stock market will be closed on Wednesday for a religious holiday.

Bank shares led the gains ahead of the November derivatives expiry on Thursday. HDFC Bank Ltd rose 2.8 per cent and ICICI Bank Ltd gained 1.6 per cent, while mortgage lender HDFC was up 3 per cent, .

Export-driven technology shares such as Infosys rose 2.2 per cent, helped by the recent weakness in the rupee, which has dropped about 3.5 per cent in November.

The rupee could remain under pressure in the near-term due to a widening fiscal gap, with hopes diminishing for dollar inflows as the parliament remains in a deadlock over reforms, which could bring in much-needed foreign investment.

Shares in Pantaloon Retail India Ltd gained 3.5 per cent, while Trent Ltd ended 0.3 per cent higher, on hopes the government will be able to garner support to clear the opening of the supermarket sector, dealers said.

Wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy Ltd rose 10.7 per cent after lenders agreed to restructure about 110 billion rupees of its debt, sources with direct knowledge of the situation said.

Among stocks that fell, shares in private sector lender Federal Bank Ltd fell 1.5 per cent after L&T Finance Holdings Ltd sold 7.99 million shares in the bank at an average price of 453.37 rupees.

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