Sensex surges 305 points; biggest gain since Sept. 21

A broker reacts during trading at a stock brokerage firm in Mumbai September 2, 2008.

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Sensex posted its biggest daily gain in more than two months as investor sentiment turned positive on growing hopes the government would push through reforms to stimulate growth and avoid a ratings downgrade.

Expectations for higher returns in December also boosted sentiment for shares.

The market also tracked global peers, which rose on new debt targets for Greece and a political agreement on disbursing the next instalment of aid. Sentiment was also helped by ratings agency Moody's maintaining India's rating outlook at stable.

The market was eagerly awaiting a media briefing by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram later in the day.

He is expected to outline the government's steps to push through with economic reforms, though opposition lawmakers are demanding the government roll back its plans to open up the supermarket sector to foreign chains.

Moody's said on Tuesday the outlook on its Baa3 rating for India is stable, citing the country's large, diverse economy and strong gross domestic product growth as supportive of the rating.

"A light market has risen on factors like Greece, increasing support on reforms and Moody's statement. The finance minister's press conference would be a further positive," said Vivek Mahajan, head of research, Aditya Birla Money.

The Sensex was up 1.65 percent, or 305.07 points, at 18,842.08, its higest close since November 8, and is just 295 points away from year high.

The Nifty gained 1.62 percent, or 91.55 points, to 5,727.45. Both the indices posted their biggest gains since September 21.

The stock market will be closed on Wednesday for a religious holiday.

Bank shares led the gains ahead of the November derivatives expiry on Thursday. HDFC Bank Ltd (HDBK.NS) rose 2.8 percent and ICICI Bank Ltd (ICBK.NS) gained 1.6 percent, while mortgage lender HDFC (HDFC.NS) was up 3 percent, .

Export-driven technology shares such as Infosys (INFY.NS) rose 2.2 percent, helped by the recent weakness in the rupee, which has dropped about 3.5 percent in November.

The rupee could remain under pressure in the near-term due to a widening fiscal gap, with hopes diminishing for dollar inflows as the parliament remains in a deadlock over reforms, which could bring in much-needed foreign investment.

Shares in Pantaloon Retail India Ltd PART.NS gained 3.5 percent, while Trent Ltd (TREN.NS) ended 0.3 percent higher, on hopes the government will be able to garner support to clear the opening of the supermarket sector, dealers said.

Wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy Ltd (SUZL.NS) rose 10.7 percent after lenders agreed to restructure about 110 billion rupees of its debt, sources with direct knowledge of the situation said.

Among stocks that fell, shares in private sector lender Federal Bank Ltd (FED.NS) fell 1.5 percent after L&T Finance Holdings Ltd (LTFH.NS) sold 7.99 million shares in the bank at an average price of 453.37 rupees.

(Additional reporting by Abhishek Vishnoi; Editing by Prateek Chatterjee)