Bank counters were holding firm on Wednesday with the BSE Bankex emerging the biggest sectoral gainer in the morning trade, up by about 103 points.
The only stock in the red was Kotak Mahindra Bank. The bank had announced that it has been asked by the RBI to cut promoter holding to 20 per cent by 2018, though the announcement itself may have no link with the marginal decline the stock had witnessed. Kotak Mahindra Bank declined to Rs 575.85, a loss of Rs 3.85.
Axis Bank was up Rs 11.05 at Rs 1,014.30 and SBI had gained Rs 11.90 at Rs 2,128. Bank of India was trading at Rs 346.65, a gain of Rs 2.30.
Bank of Baroda was up Rs 9.85 to Rs 716.50, while Canara Bank moved up Rs 4.25 to Rs 419.20, HDFC Bank gained Rs 6.50 to trade at Rs 550.60 and ICICI Bank jumped Rs 12.55 to Rs 858.00. PNB was trading at Rs 787.25, a gain of Rs 6.60.