Sensex up 100 points, Nifty above 8,900; Axis Bank rallies 4%

BSE Midcap and the BSE Smallcap indices outperformed the frontline indices to rise 0.5% each

Benchmark indices pared losses to trade higher in the last leg of today's trade led by consumer durables, banking and oil & gas indices. Nifty50 indeax reclaimed its 8,900 level for the first time since Sept 9, 2016 wil BSE Sensex was up 100 points.

Telecom stocks declined as Mukesh Ambani announces 100 million subscribers for Reliance Jio. He said Jio will start offering tariff plans from April 1 including free domestic calling to all networks. 
 
Meanwhile, Asian shares were trading largely flat after a holiday in US markets.
 
At 3:03 pm, the S&P BSE Sensex was