Sensex rallies over 1,300 pts on HDFC duo merger, Nifty tops 18,000; Bank index surges 3%

Equity benchmark Sensex surged over 1,300 points on Monday to reclaim the 60,000-level, boosted by intense buying in banking and financial stocks after the announcement of merger between HDFC and HDFC Bank. Strong global cues and receding crude oil prices also propped up the domestic equity markets, according to traders. Shares of HDFC and HDFC Bank rallied nearly 10 per cent as investors lapped up the merger deal.