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Retirement fund body EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation) is expected to keep interest rate unchanged at 8.65% on provident funds for its about 5 crore members for 2017-18. The decision in this regard will be taken in its trustees' meet on February 21, 2018. EPFO had announced an 8.65% rate of interest on deposits for 2016-17, lower than 8.8% in 2015- 16.

Janata Dal (Secular) on Friday released the second list of its 56 candidates after HD Kumaraswamy filed his nomination papers from Kanakapura and Channapatna constituencies. JDS has given chance to rebel leaders from both BJP and Congress who did not get tickets to contest.Actor-turned-politician Sasikumar gets JDS ticket to contest from Hosadurga constituency.

The Syrian regime remains able to conduct chemical attacks, though only at a limited level, the Pentagon has said following last week's international cruise missile strikes on chemical weapons-related targets. On April 13, the US, Britain and France fired more than 100 cruise missiles at three Syrian sites.

The Sensex today ended at 34,415, down 11.71 points. Nifty ended at 10,564, down 1.25 points. Around 1169 shares advanced, against a decline of 1428 shares declined, while 175 shares are unchanged. TCS, Infosys, and Tech Mahindra were the top gainers, while Yes Bank and ICICI Bank lost the most. Gold recorded a steep fall of Rs 240 to Rs 32,390 per 10 grams.