Sensex falls 209 points as RBI hikes key rates

The BSE Sensex fell about 209 points to 18,149.87 on sell-off by funds today after the Reserve Bank raised key policy rates by 25 basis points and revised upwards its inflation forecast, amid a weak trend in global markets.

Interest-rate linked stocks like banking, realty and auto were among the major losers, dragging the Sensex down.

RBI hiked the short-term lending (repo) rate to 6.75% and the short-term borrowing (reverse repo) rate to 5.75% with immediate effect.

Although data released today showed that food inflation dipped marginally in the first week of this month to 9.42%, it is still considered high, as is overall inflation.

Opening nearly 150 points down, the 30-scrip BSE benchmark index Sensex extended losses to close the session 208.82 points or 1.14% lower at 18,149.87.

It had dipped to 18,104.02 as RBI raised the rates for eighth time since March 2010 to tame rising prices, and forecast that inflation would be 8% by March-end --higher than the earlier prediction of 7%.

Similarly, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty lost 64.50 points, or 1.17% to 5,446.65 after touching the day's low of 5,435.30.

Stock brokers said that although on the expected lines, the RBI move, as well as inflation prediction, had negative impact on the market sentiment.

Besides, weakening trend on the Asian stock markets dampened investor mood, as Japan's Nikkei ended 1.44% lower and Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 1.83%.

The banking sector index ended 0.79% down at 12,340.53 as SBI, ICICI Bank and HDFC bank closed in the negative territory.

The realty sector index too shed 0.80% to 2,087.71 as DLF Ltd, Unitech Ltd, DB Realty and Ackruti City suffered moderate losses, while another interest-sensitive auto index dipped 1.27% to 8,659.47 points after Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra and Bajaj Auto succumbed to selling pressure.

The Sensex's heaviest-weighed Reliance Industries dropped by Rs13.15, or 1.26% to Rs1,031.45 and the second most heavy Infosys Technologies fell by Rs54.25, or 1.79% to Rs2,981.25.

A rise in stocks of consumer durables and power Sector, however, cushioned the fall.