BSE Sensex flat; telecom shares fall

Reuters Market Eye - The BSE Sensex falls 0.02 percent, while the 50-share Nifty falls 0.04 percent. Likely candidates for banking licences gain a day after RBI Deputy Governor Anand Sinha told local television news channels the central bank will issue final guidelines on new bank licences before the end of March.

The guidelines had been expected, and dealers say the comments confirm there won't be any significant delays.

Among these candidates, IFCI Ltd shares gain 2.4 percent, Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Services Ltd rises 1.8 percent, and Shriram transport Finance Co Ltd is up 1 percent.

However, mobile operators fall after wireless broadband airwave holders were allowed to provide voice services by paying additional fee, a move that is seen benefiting 4G licence holder Reliance Industries Ltd , but leading to more competition in the sector.

 

Bharti Airtel Ltd shares fall 1.8 percent, Idea Cellular Ltd is down 1.7 percent.

(Reporting by Manoj Dharra)