Sensex rises to a new record as Infosys shares gain

A rally led by software exporter Infosys pushed key Indian equity benchmarks to new records. The S&P BSE Sensex Index and the NSE Nifty 50 Index each climbed 0.2 per cent at the close, ending at an all-time high for a fourth day in five. Infosys rose 2.2 per cent to the highest level since August 2016 as investors expect a revival in demand for software services. The company reports quarterly earnings Friday. Private lender IndusInd Bank dropped 2 per cent after bad loans as a portion of total widened in the quarter ended December, compared with the previous three months. Read more on third-quarter earnings expectations of software exporters Some investors see more volatility in Indian equities, among the best performers in Asia. The NSE Volatility Index has climbed nearly 11 per cent this year compared with an 18 per cent decline in 2017.