Indian equity markets opened Friday’s session on a firm note, extending their recent upward momentum. The Sensex rose over 250 points in early trade, while the Nifty50 moved back above the 24,250 level, supported by selective buying in heavyweight stocks.
The positive start was driven by improving global sentiment as geopolitical tensions showed signs of easing and crude oil prices softened from recent highs. Lower oil prices helped ease inflation concerns, lifting overall risk appetite in domestic markets.
Global cues also supported the upmove. US markets closed steady in the previous session, while Asian indices traded mostly in the green, adding to optimism across risk assets.
On the sectoral front, buying interest was seen in IT, banking, and energy stocks. Heavyweights such as Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, and Infosys contributed significantly to the gains, helping push benchmark indices higher.
However, not all sectors participated in the rally. Auto and FMCG stocks saw mild profit booking, with stocks like Maruti Suzuki, ITC, and Tata Motors among the notable laggards in early trade.
Broader markets remained stronger than benchmarks, with mid-cap and small-cap indices outperforming, indicating sustained retail participation and wider market strength beyond large-cap names.
Among gainers, financial services, oil & gas, and select technology stocks saw steady buying. On the losing side, select consumption-linked and automobile counters came under pressure, limiting broader upside in some segments.
Market experts added that while sentiment has improved, volatility is likely to persist as investors track geopolitical developments, crude oil trends, and upcoming corporate earnings.