INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Stock Market Updates: Gains across sectors - led by financial shares - pushed the markets higherDomestic stock markets started Thursday's
session on a strong note, tracking sharp gains across Asian markets
Gains across sectors - led by banking and financial services shares - pushed the markets higher
Analysts awaited updates from a key hearing in the Supreme Court as a deadline given to banks by the government to waive interest payments
Industries, SBI and HDFC Bank were the biggest contributors to the gain in Sensex
The four scrips accounted for more than 200 points in its rise.The Supreme Court was due to hear a batch of petitions later in the day on
whether borrowers should be made to bear interest on interest for delayed loan repayments on account of COVID-19
repayments due during March-August ends on Thursday.Last month, the government told the top court it will waive certain interest levies on
loans below Rs 2 crore under a relief plan
The court had asked the government to implement the scheme, which would bring relief to millions of borrowers, at the earliest.Equity
markets elsewhere in Asia soared to three-month highs, and bonds continued a rally, as investors wagered the likely prospect of US policy
gridlock would greatly favour some industries while putting a restraining hand on government borrowing.MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific
shares outside Japan climbed 1.3 per cent to its highest since February, 2018
Japan's Nikkei 225 benchmark rose 1.1 per cent to a nine-month peak
The E-Mini S-P 500 futures edged 0.1 per cent higher, following sharp gains overnight, but EUROSTOXX 50 futures eased 0.3 per cent.The risk
of a prolonged contested election remained, though the count was progressing in an orderly fashion with Democratic challenger Joe Biden
Donald Trump and Mr Biden have paths to 270 Electoral College votes as states tallied mail-in ballots
Biden as the results trickled in, having earlier heavily favoured Mr Trump.
