Stocks extend gains as Nifty reclaims 11,000-mark

MUMBAI: Benchmark indices darted up for the fifth straight session Wednesday on acrossthe-board buying amid expectations of a shift in Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy stance. The BSE Sensex vaulted 358.42 points, or 0.98%, to close at 36,975.23, while the NSE Nifty gained 128.10 points, or 1.17%, to 11,062.45. Both the indices closed at five-month highs, led by financial services, IT and metal stocks, amid persistent foreign fund inflows. Analysts said investor sentiment was bullish ahead of the RBI’S policy meeting outcome, scheduled for Thursday. The RBI’S Monetary Policy Committee began its three-day meet on Tuesday to decide on key rates amid expectations that it may change its policy stance to ‘neutral’ from ‘calibrated tightening’ on low inflation footprint.