Benchmark stock market indices closed Thursday’s trading session with significant gains, driven by growing investor optimism. The S&P BSE Sensex surged 446.21 points to settle at 85,632.68, while the NSE Nifty50 climbed 139.50 points to end at 26,192.15. Although broader indices showed mixed performance, frontline stocks, especially in the financial sector, maintained a positive trajectory.
Leading the gainers on the Nifty50 were Eicher Motors, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Reliance Industries, and Tech Mahindra, while Asian Paints, HCLTech, Titan, HUL, and ONGC ended as the top losers.
The trading session received strong momentum from Asian markets and a stable domestic sentiment, as highlighted by Ashika Institutional Equities. The Nifty remained close to its all-time high of 26,277, supported by widespread buying in key market segments.
Sector-wise, Oil & Gas, Infrastructure, Financial Services, Energy, and Auto sectors significantly boosted the index, while Media, PSU Banks, and Realty sectors experienced minor profit-taking. The overall market sentiment stayed positive.
Optimism surrounding a potential US–India trade deal further bolstered investor confidence. Notably, there was a notable increase in open interest in stocks such as Power India, Max Financial Services, Info Edge (Naukri), Eicher Motors, and Cummins India in the derivatives market, indicating fresh trader positions ahead of the monthly expiry.
Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, attributed the market’s upbeat mood to global strength and progress in trade discussions. He emphasized the positive impact of India–US trade talks and global tech-driven gains on market sentiment, with fresh FII inflows and strength in Auto, Financials, and IT sectors contributing to the day’s rally.
Financial stocks, including Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, and private banking counters, played a pivotal role in driving the indices higher. The market witnessed a rotation phase, with investors strategically adding long positions in sectors demonstrating earnings resilience.
While the Bank Nifty closed relatively stable, analysts cautioned about short-term prudence following recent rapid gains. Technical Analyst Vatsal Bhuva suggested a cautious stance and highlighted key support and resistance levels for traders to consider for optimal risk-reward setups.
As the Nifty approaches its all-time high, market participants are closely monitoring momentum sustainability amid global cues and upcoming macroeconomic triggers. The broader market participation and liquidity trends will be crucial factors in determining the market’s momentum in the coming week, with strong sectoral performance, positive global sentiment, and substantial buying in key index components underpinning the current positive market sentiment.