** Shares of Axis Bank AXBK.NS rise 1.5% at 1,389 rupees
** Bank clarifies that it has not submitted nor plans to submit any bid for a stake in CreditAccess Grameen CRDE.NS
** Citi ("Buy"; PT: 1,463 rupees) says confirmation decisively eliminates key market overhang of recent weeks
** Adds, AXBK's update likely removes apprehensions around capital deployment towards microfinance acquisition and earnings volatility associated with that business
** Stock rated "Buy" on average by 40 analysts; median PT at 1,500 rupees - data compiled by LSEG
** YTD, stock up 9.4% vs Nifty Bank index .NSEBANK up 2.7%
(Reporting by Mridula Kumar in Bengaluru)
((Mridula.Kumar@thomsonreuters.com;))