Budget session: Speaker hopes for smooth functioning

STAFF WRITER 11:44 HRS IST
New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today expressed hope that the House proceedings will run smoothly during the Budget Session which began today.

"The Opposition has assured me that the proceedings will not be disrupted. I hope that the proceedings will go on smoothly," she told reporters outside Parliament.

To a question on oppositions plans to rake up several burning issues, she said the House is meant for debates as per the procedures.

Sensex up 227 pts in early trade on Asian cues

STAFF WRITER 9:45 HRS IST
Mumbai, Feb 22 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex flared up by a whopping 230 points or 1.42 per cent in early trade today, driven by rallies on the Asian bourses.The 30-share index, which had lost over 237 points in the past two sessions, recovered by 229.75 points or 1.42 per cent to 16,421.38 points with metals, IT and stocks leading the rally.The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty regained the 4,900-points level by rising 66.60 points, or 1.37 per cent at 4,911.50 points.Stock brokers said trading sentiments were mainly helped by a strong rally on other Asian bourses after the world markets shrugged off the US discount rate hike.The BSE metal sector index rose the most with a gain of 2.15 per cent at Rs 16,145.45 with stocks of Hindalco rising 2.70 per cent to Rs 153.80, Hindustan Zinc rose by 3.