Indian equity markets opened largely unchanged on Monday, with the Sensex trading flat and the Nifty holding above 24,050 for most of the session.
Sentiment improved after reports of renewed diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran. That helped ease worries about possible supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Even so, crude oil prices stayed elevated, which kept traders cautious and limited the market’s upside.
Stock-specific moves drove most of the action. Dr Reddy’s Laboratories was among the top gainers after investors reacted positively to updates linked to its Hyderabad biologics facility. FMCG stocks also attracted buying interest and helped support the broader market. On the other hand, Persistent Systems fell sharply after announcing an overseas acquisition, with investors worried about the deal’s valuation and integration risks.
Kotak Mahindra Bank also slipped after chief executive Ashok Vaswani said he would not seek another term after 2026. Analysts said the move was more of a sentiment-driven reaction than a reflection of the bank’s underlying strength.
Broader markets remained weak, with several sectoral indices ending in the red. Traders said investors are now waiting for fresh domestic triggers such as corporate earnings and macroeconomic data before taking larger positions.
Going ahead, market participants will closely track crude oil trends, foreign fund flows and global market cues. These factors are likely to decide whether Indian equities can extend their recent gains or continue moving in a narrow range in the coming sessions.