The Indian benchmark indices were trading in a narrow range as investors assessed policymakers’ comments during the post-policy press conference following the RBI’s monetary policy decision.

The Reserve Bank of India raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.5% and shifted its monetary policy stance to “calibrated tightening”, marking the central bank’s first rate hike in four years amid persistent price pressures.

At 12:40 hours, the 30-share benchmark index was trading at 72850.09 down by -217.72 points or by -0.3 % and then NSE Nifty was at 22648.9 down by -127.2 points or by -0.56 %.

Sensex touched intraday high of 73018.82 and intraday low of 72520.73 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 22717.65 and intraday low of 22578.25

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Rs. 1851.75,+2.36%), Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Rs. 440.25,+2.09%), Eternal Ltd. (Rs. 331.65,+1.10%), ICICI Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1350.60,+0.67%), Bajaj Finance Ltd. (Rs. 966.90,+0.53%), among others.

The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Titan Company Ltd. (Rs. 4376.50,-3.60%), Asian Paints Ltd. (Rs. 2372.70,-1.95%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 175.15,-1.93%), Bharat Electronics Ltd. (Rs. 380.20,-1.86%), Infosys Ltd. (Rs. 996.70,-1.61%), among others.

TECk index was at 14462.69 up by 37.6 points or by 0.26%. PVR INOX Ltd. (Rs. 1360.00,+8.68%), Bharti Hexacom Ltd. (Rs. 1440.35,+3.82%), HFCL Ltd. (Rs. 270.25,+3.05%), Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Rs. 1851.75,+2.36%), Vodafone Idea Ltd. (Rs. 13.25,+0.38%),.

Metal index was at 39114.89 down by -789.18 points or by -1.98%. National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 324.30,-3.71%), Jindal Steel Ltd. (Rs. 1057.80,-2.51%), Steel Authority of India (SAIL) Ltd. (Rs. 174.55,-2.35%), Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Rs. 919.05,-2.22%), JSW Steel Ltd. (Rs. 1233.35,-2.04%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4515 , shares advanced were 2026 while 2256 shares declined and 233 were unchanged.