A broker reacts while trading at his computer terminal at a stock brokerage firm in Mumbai, India, February 1, 2020. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/Files
BENGALURU, November 3 (Reuters): Indian shares inched higher on Tuesday, as investors cheered strong factory activity data from Asia's third-largest economy, with banking stocks offering support after the sector's heavyweights reported upbeat earnings.
By 0355 GMT, the NSE Nifty 50 index <.NSEI> and the S&P BSE Sensex rose 0.9% each to 11,774.8 and 40,110.93, respectively.
India's factory activity expanded at its fastest pace in over a decade in October, a private survey showed, as its demand recovered from the coronavirus-led disruptions.
The Nifty banking index <.NSEBANK> rose 2.2%, led by a 3.3% gain in heavyweight stock ICICI Bank <ICBK.NS>. The lender's shares are up for a second session following its upbeat earnings announcement on Saturday.
Banks and financial stocks have the biggest weight on the Nifty among sectors of about 35%.
India's biggest lender by assets, SBI <SBI.NS>, was up 2.4% ahead of its earnings report scheduled for Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Reliance Industries <RELI.NS> fell for a second straight session, shedding 1.5%.
