Indian equity benchmarks ended higher on Thursday, with the BSE Sensex gaining 238 points to close at 78,932.62, while the Nifty 50 settled above the 23,950 mark at 23,962.85. Positive buying in realty, PSU banking and metal stocks helped markets recover after a cautious start to the session.
Investor sentiment improved as traders accumulated rate-sensitive sectors amid hopes of supportive domestic macroeconomic conditions. Realty and public sector bank stocks led the rally, while gains in select heavyweight shares also lifted the broader market.
Among the top gainers on the Sensex were Trent, Adani Ports, Power Grid, State Bank of India, and NTPC, supported by strong buying interest. Realty stocks also witnessed healthy demand, contributing to the market’s upward momentum.
On the other hand, Titan, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, HCLTech, and Asian Paints ended among the top losers, with IT stocks witnessing profit booking as investors remained cautious ahead of global economic cues.
Sectorally, the Nifty Realty and PSU Bank indices emerged as the biggest gainers, while the IT index closed in the red. Broader markets also outperformed, with the mid-cap and small-cap indices ending the session with modest gains, reflecting improved risk appetite among investors.
Market participants remained watchful ahead of key global developments, including the release of the US Federal Reserve’s policy minutes and updates on international trade and geopolitical tensions. Analysts said domestic fundamentals continue to provide support, although global uncertainty may keep markets volatile in the near term.
The Indian rupee traded in a narrow range against the US dollar, while investors also tracked crude oil prices and foreign institutional investor activity for further direction.