By IANS,
Mumbai : Benchmark indices of the Indian equities markets, which rose almost a percent after the Reserve Bank of India announced a lower-than-expected hike in key interest rates, gave up intra-day gains to close 0.5 percent higher.
The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,394.68 points, closed at 17,461.36 points, up 60.68 points or 0.35 percent.
The Sensex had risen to 17,560.09 points, about 0.91 percent higher than its last close, after the RBI hiked key interest rates (the repo rate, the reverse repo rate and cash reserve ratio) by 25 basis points each.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty followed a similar trajectory and ended trade at 5,234.7 points against the previous close at 5,203.65 points, a gain of 31.05 points or 0.6 percent.
Medium-to-small sized scrips did better with the BSE midcap index closing 1.41 percent higher and the BSE small cap index ending 1.66 percent up.
IT and telecom stocks were among the main losers at the markets, while interest rate sensitive scrips like realty and banking saw buying.