Banking shares edged higher under the belief that an increase in lending rates will protect their profit margins. State Bank of India added 4.3% to Rs 988.7, on lifting the benchmark prime lending rate by 50 basis points to 12.75% per annum with effect from Monday (9 April).

Maruti and Reliance Communications rallied around 4.5% each to Rs 790 and Rs 416, respectively. Last week, Maruti reported record March month sales. Reliance Communications advanced after adding 1.2 million new wireless subscribers in March 2007. Reliance Communications said its average revenue per user was expected to rise by 12%, as a result of the re-verification exercise, making it one of the top-three players in India in terms of average revenue per user.

Cement stocks advanced for the second day in a row today, as cement makers refused to reduce cement prices despite the government last week banning import duties on the product. Grasim gained 3.88% to Rs 2,195, ACC rose 2.4% to Rs 739.90 and Gujarat Ambuja Cements added 2.4% to Rs 108.50.

Hindalco, BHEL, ONGC gained nearly 3% each at Rs 136, Rs 2,425, respectively. Other included Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, TCS and Wipro surging 2% each to Rs 1,384, Rs 761, Rs 1,217 and Rs 562, respectively. Infosys rallied 2.5% to Rs 2,044.

Decliners

Bajaj Auto was the sole decliner among the index stocks today, off 0.5% at Rs 2,297.


7:00AM Asian markets finished higher on Monday with Japan upbeat on exporters.
Asian markets finished higher on Monday. Japan''s benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 258.98 points, or 1.48%, to finish at 17,743.76. Upbeat figures showing U.S. non-farm payroll on Friday cheered optimism about the U.S. economy, the biggest export market for Japan. The weakness of the yen also buoyed sentiment. Advancers included Advantest, climbing 4.17% and Toyota Motor rising 1.89%. Machinery stocks also advanced with Komatsu rising 4.26%.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index in South Korea gained 16.91 points, or 1.1%, to 1,501.06, in the third record close in four sessions. Hyundai Engineering & Construction gained 3%, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction rose 3.8% on rising order news and Doosan Infracore rallied 8.4% on increasing demand for excavators in China.

In China, banks bounced back, after declining Friday on the latest reserve requirement ratio increase, supporting the country key stock indexes to a record finish for the sixth straight session. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 2.3% to 3,398.95 and the Shenzhen Composite Index added 2.1% to 907.82.