Sensex jumps 747 points as RBI cuts repo rate by 50 bps; realty, bank, auto surge

Benchmark equity indices surged on Friday, with the Sensex climbing 746.95 points and Nifty reclaiming the 25,000-level after the RBI cut interest rates by more-than-expected 50 basis points -- a third consecutive reduction -- and reduced the cash reserve ratio for banks to provide a major liquidity fillip to support the economy amid geopolitical and tariff headwinds.

- 

Recovering all the early lost ground, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 746.95 points, or 0.92 per cent, to settle at 82,188.99. During the day, it surged 857.85 points, or 1.05 per cent, to 82,299.89. The 50-share NSE Nifty reclaimed the 25,000-level and climbed 252.15 points, or 1.02 per cent, to settle at 25,003.05. Interest-rate-sensitive realty index jumped 4.74 per cent, while auto index went up 1.50 per cent and bankex climbed 1.25 per cent. The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) six-member monetary policy committee, headed by Governor Sanjay Malhotra and consisting of three external members, voted five to one to lower the benchmark repurchase or repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.5 per cent.