Indian Stock Market Hits Record High Amid Celebrations of Modi’s Likely Return

09:28 GMT, 23 May 2019

The Indian stock market surged with a record high on Thursday as early trends showed a massive victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in early vote counting in the world’s largest democracy.

Sputnik

New Delhi (Sputnik):The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex, in a first, crossed the 40,000-mark after climbing around 1,000 points, while NSE Nifty touched the 12,000-level in early trading.

Investor sentiment has been buoyant since exit polls predicted a stable government and comeback of the Narendra Modi-led government for a second-term. Th rupee and sovereign bonds have also strengthened in the early trading. The rupee strengthened to 69.40 against the US dollar which is its highest in the last three months.

Early Celebrations Break Out at Ruling BJP's Headquarter in New Delhi

23 May 2019, 06:34 GMT

The market expects that in second term the government will take firm steps to privatise loss-making state funded units and tighten fiscal policy to give a push to economic growth.

Earlier this week, the United Nations (UN) lowered its forecast for India's annual growth in 2019-20 to 7.1% from its earlier estimate of 7.5% but emphasised that "Strong domestic consumption and investment will continue to support growth, which is projected at 7% in 2019 and 7.1% in 2020".