Domestic shares clocked a record closing high helped by a rally in realty and consumer durables stocks, while investors awaited RBI monetary policy decision.

The Monetary Policy Committee, headed by RBI Governor Urjit Patel, began its two-day meeting today amid experts saying that the central bank is likely to hold the repo rate while unveiling the first bi-monthly review of 2017-18 in view of hardening inflation.

The broader NSE index ended 27.3 points or 0.3 per cent higher at 9,265.15. Earlier in the day, the index hit 9,273.9, its highest ever.

The benchmark BSE index closed up 64.02 points or 0.21 per cent at 29,974.24 after breaching the 30,000 mark earlier in the session for the first time since March 4, 2015.

Among BSE sectoral indices, realty index was the star-performer and was up 4.08 per cent, followed by consumer durables 2.41 per cent, capital goods 1.53 per cent and infrastructure 1.22 per cent. On the other hand, IT index was down 0.79 per cent, TECk 0.21 per cent and FMCG 0.1 per cent.

Top five Sensex gainers were Adani Ports (+4.5%), Maruti (+4.4%), Reliance (+3.19%), L&T (+2.18%) and HUL (+1.82%), while the major losers were HDFC (-2.78%), Coal India (-1.69%), Infosys (-1.39%), Asian Paints (-1.36%) and ITC (-0.98%).

Early trade

The BSE Sensex breached 30,000-mark and the NSE Nifty hit a lifetime high of 9,264.95 in the opening trade on sustained buying by retail investors amid increased foreign fund inflows and positive Asian cues.

However, the benchmark failed to sustain the 30,000 level and slipped into the negative territory ahead of RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee meet later in the day.

The 30-share index crossed the 30,000-mark by surging 97.26 points or 0.32 per cent to trade at 30,007.48, a level last seen on March 4, 2015 when it hit an intra-day high of 30,024.74.

Similarly, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty continued its record-setting spree by gaining another 27.10 points or 0.29 per cent, to trade at a new high of 9,264.95.

The gauge had rallied by 289.72 points in previous sessions on Monday.

RBI monetary policy

The monetary policy committee of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to leave the repo rate at 6.25 per cent, where it has been since October, a Reuters poll found.

However, investors are expecting RBI to announce measures to drain the Rs 4 lakh crore that has accumulated in the banking system in March, double as compared with January.

“The market is moving slightly ahead of time, so it is taking a small breather. One might see some profit-booking as well,” said Deven Choksey, managing director, K R Choksey Investment Managers.