Indian shares join global rally on bets of end to Fed rate hikes

BENGALURU, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Indian shares advanced on Thursday, in tandem with global stocks, after the U.S. Federal Reserves less hawkish-than-expected stance on monetary policy.

After two straight sessions of losses, the NSE Nifty 50 index (.NSEI) settled 0.76% higher at 19,133.25, while the S&P BSE Sensex (.BSESN) rose 0.77% to 64,080.90.

The more domestically focused small- (.NIFSMCP100) and mid-caps (.NIFMDCP100) also gained over 1.3% each.

The Fed held interest rates steady, as was widely expected, on Wednesday, with Chair Jerome Powell saying inflation had been coming down.

\“Feds commentary was not hawkish as the market feared,\” said VK Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

\“Powells comments on inflation were slightly dovish, implying that the central bank may not hike rates again in this cycle.\”

That sent the benchmark U.S. 10-year bond yield to a two-week low, which, analysts said, boosts the allure of Indian equities to foreign investors, who have recently been piling out.

Foreign portfolio investor (FPI) selling in Indian shares hit a nine-month high in October, dragging the blue-chip Nifty 50 to its worst month in 2023.

All 13 sectoral indexes advanced on the day.

IT companies (.NIFTYIT), which are much more sensitive to U.S. interest rates than other stocks given a high concentration of U.S. clients, rose 0.78%.

Forty-two of the Nifty 50 stocks logged gains. Britannia Industries (BRIT.NS) gained 2.96% after topping profit estimates in the September quarter.

Gas distribution company GAIL (GAIL.NS) jumped 3.91%, on signing a propane supply deal with Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL.NS). BPCL added 1%.

Dabur India (DABU.NS) settled 2.57% higher after the consumer goods company beat quarterly profit estimates, supported by strong demand.