The Nifty 50 hovered near the 26,000 mark in early trade, while the Sensex climbed about 460 points, as Indian equities began the December 19 session on a firm note supported by positive global cues.
Market sentiment improved after overseas markets moved higher, supported by easing concerns over interest rates following encouraging economic data from the United States. Asian markets also traded in the green, helping lift domestic investor confidence.
On the stock-specific front, Ola Electric Mobility and Atul were among the top gainers, posting sharp early gains. Heavyweights such as Bharti Airtel and Reliance Industries also traded higher, supporting the benchmark indices. Midcap and smallcap stocks saw modest buying interest, pointing to broader market participation.
Meanwhile, ONGC, Mahindra & Mahindra, Cipla, Eicher Motors, and JSW Steel were among the stocks trading lower, limiting further upside in the indices.
Overall, positive global signals and easing inflation concerns helped Indian markets begin the day on a firm footing, with investors cautiously optimistic about near-term trends.
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