Indian shares hit fresh record highs for the fourth consecutive session on Monday, with underlying sentiment helped by strong earnings results from Reliance Industries and optimism about an improving economy.
The benchmark BSE Sensex climbed 286.43 points or 0.81 percent to 35,798.01 while the broader Nifty index ended up 71.50 points or 0.66 percent at 10,966.20.
ONGC rallied 3.7 percent after the oil explorer said it would acquire the government's entire 51.11 percent stake in HPCL.
Reliance Industries' shares jumped 4.2 percent after the company reported a 25 percent rise in quarterly profit, beating analysts' estimates
On the flip side, BPCL, HDFC, Wipro, GAIL and HPCL lost 2-3 percent.
Globally, Asian stocks turned in a mixed performance as investors waited for progress in talks to end the U.S. government shut down that began at midnight on Friday after the Senate failed to reach agreement over a short-term funding bill.
European markets were subdued in early trade ahead of monetary policy decisions from two major central banks this week.
Market participants also kept an eye on political developments in Europe after Germany's Social Democrats voted to enter coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's government and French President Emmanuel Macron said it would be possible for Britain to secure a bespoke trade deal if the U.K. accepts certain "preconditions".
by RTT Staff Writer
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