Indian share markets settled at new closing highs for a third straight session today. At the closing bell, the BSE Sensex finished higher by 90 points. While, the NSE Nifty finished higher by 13 points. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Midcap Index ended down by 0.4% while S&P BSE Small Cap Index ended up by 0.1% respectively.

Sectoral indices ended the day on a mixed note with realty stocks and consumer durables stocks leading the gainers. While, power stocks and healthcare stocks ended the day in red.

Overseas, Asian stock markets finished higher today with shares in Japan leading the region. The Nikkei 225 is up 0.57% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is up 0.36% and China’s Shanghai Composite is up 0.13%. European markets are higher today with shares in France leading the region. The CAC 40 is up 0.49% while London’s FTSE 100 is up 0.31% and Germany’s DAX is up 0.21%.

The rupee was trading at Rs 63.47 against the US$ in the afternoon session.

Coal India share price rallied over 5.6% in the opening trade on the reports that it has raised prices of thermal coal by an average 9%. The decision was taken at a board meeting held on Monday while revised prices would be effective from today. It will make power generation costlier by a similar percentage. Cost of cement and fertiliser production is also expected to rise as a result.

In another development, rating agency, CRISIL in its latest report has maintained its projection of India’s economic growth in 2018-19 to 7.6% on the low base.

The rating agency attributed the continuing slowdown to the after-effects of the demonetisation exercise, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation and weakness in agriculture.

The CRISIL note comes days after the Central Statistics Office (CSO) came out with its First Advance Estimates of National Income, 2017-18, in which it stated that Indian economy is expected to grow at a four-year low of 6.5% in the current fiscal year 2017-18, as against 7.1% in the fiscal year 2016-17.