Stock market analyst Nitin Murarka of SMC Global has maintained 'buy' rating on Karnataka Bank Ltd stock to achieve a short-term target of Rs 190.

According to analyst, the investors can buy the stock stop loss of Rs 174.

Today, the stock of the bank opened at Rs 175.90 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 188.85 and a low of Rs 111 on BSE. Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 12.54 and 14.35 respectively.

Karnataka Bank has fixed its eyes on the agricultural segment.

The banking institution has objectives to lend out credit around Rs 1,104 crore in 2010-11.

To carry forward with this aim, the MD and CEO of the bank, P Jayarama Bhat asked all the divisions of Karnataka Bank that financial help requires to be strengthened to this segmnet.

Mr. Bhat asked banks to lift up their agricultural segment lending and therefore attain central bank's objective of 18%.

He has also directed the agriculture field officials and agriculture marketing bureaucrats that interpreting the troubles of farm segment, training the agriculturists on sensible use of bank credit, so also prompt repayment of bank loan and raising agricultural credit are the need of the hour.