Sensex off day's low, Nifty retains 8,900; Tata Steel top loser

Metal stocks were the biggest laggards with NMDC, Vedanta and JSPL shedding 3.5% - 4.7%

Benchmark indices pared some losses after Nifty snapped its 8,900 mark in the afternoon deals as markets remained cautious ahead of the exit polls data for assembly elections in five states and the US Federal Reserve policy meeting next week.
 
State elections results, including that of Uttar Pradesh, will have a key influence on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chances of clinching a second term in 2019, is to be revealed on Saturday.
 
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve has a policy meeting on March 14-15 and markets are expecting a rate hike after recent hawkish comments by policymakers.
 
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