Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 157.74 points, or 0.43% at 36,326.59.

Central Bank of India (up 4.83%), United Bank of India (up 2.68%), Bank of Maharashtra (up 2.1%), Corporation Bank (up 2.05%), Bank of India (up 1.69%), Punjab & Sind Bank (up 0.65%), Indian Bank (up 0.58%), Vijaya Bank (up 0.52%), Andhra Bank (up 0.51%), Union Bank of India (up 0.42%), Bank of Baroda (up 0.39%), Syndicate Bank (up 0.27%) and UCO Bank (up 0.25%), edged higher.

Punjab National Bank (down 0.07%), State Bank of India (down 0.33%), IDBI Bank (down 0.64%), Canara Bank (down 0.67%) and Allahabad Bank (down 1.97%), edged lower.

The government on Thursday, 20 December 2018, reportedly sought parliament's nod to spend an additional Rs 41,000 crore on recapitalisation of capital-starved public sector banks. This is over and above the Budgeted Rs 65,000 crore fund for the PSU banks in the current financial year. The capital infusion, however, will not entail any cash outgo from the Centre's kitty as it will come through recapitalisation bonds, reports added.

Further, the government sought Parliament approval for an additional net spending of Rs 15065.49 crore during the current fiscal year 2018-19. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tabled the second batch of Supplementary Demand for Grants for 2018-19 involving a gross spending of Rs 85948.86 crore in the Lok Sabha.