Mumbai, Feb 6 (PTI) Stock markets closed higher on Friday after the Reserve Bank of India kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged as expected and proposed allowing banks to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) with certain prudential safeguards to deepen the financing pool for the real estate sector.

Helped by fag-end buying, the 30-share BSE Sensex advanced 266.47 points or 0.32 per cent to settle at 83,580.40. From the day's low of 82,925.35, the benchmark jumped 655.05 points at the end of trade.

The 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 50.90 points or 0.20 per cent to end at 25,693.70 in a volatile session.

The Reserve Bank of India kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Friday, as expected, as inflation remained at manageable levels and growth concerns eased following increased government spending in the Budget and reduced tariff pressures after a trade deal with the United States.

The central bank's six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to keep the repurchase or repo rate at 5.25 per cent. RBI retained its neutral policy stance, signalling that it is likely to remain on hold for now.

From the Sensex firms, ITC jumped the most by 5.09 per cent.

Kotak Mahindra Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finance, Power Grid and Bajaj Finserv were among the other major gainers.

Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Adani Ports, Asian Paints, Eternal and HCL Tech were among the major laggards.

"To further promote financing to the real estate sector, it is proposed to allow banks to lend to REITs with certain prudential safeguards," RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said while unveiling the bi-monthly monetary policy.

In Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended lower, while Japan's Nikkei 225 index settled higher.

European markets were trading mostly higher.

US markets ended lower on Thursday. The Nasdaq Composite index tumbled 1.59 per cent, S&P 500 declined 1.23 per cent, and Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.20 per cent.

"Domestic equity markets traded largely subdued through most of the session before staging a late recovery, supported by selective buying in FMCG and private banking stocks. In contrast, the domestic IT sector continued to underperform.

"The RBI’s policy announcement was broadly in line with expectations, maintaining status quo on interest rates while reiterating a constructive growth outlook," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.

Foreign institutional investors offloaded equities worth Rs 2,150.51 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data.

"Sentiment, however, drew support from regulatory clarity after the RBI indicated that banks would be permitted to lend to REITs, enhancing long-term funding visibility for the real estate and credit ecosystem," Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, an online trading and wealth tech firm, said.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, climbed 1.20 per cent to USD 68.34 per barrel.

On Thursday, the Sensex dropped 503.76 points or 0.60 per cent to settle at 83,313.93. The Nifty declined 133.20 points or 0.52 per cent to end at 25,642.80. PTI SUM SUM MR

Reserve Bank policy: banks may be allowed to lend to REITs; repo rate held steady. The Reserve Bank of India kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25 percent with a unanimous Monetary Policy Committee vote and maintained a neutral policy stance. It proposed allowing banks to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) with specified prudential safeguards to deepen the financing pool for the real estate sector.