Indian equities rebounded sharply on Monday, ending a three-day slide as markets cheered the game-changing free trade pact with New Zealand, alongside stabilizing global cues and softer geopolitical risks from West Asia.
The Sensex ended 0.83% higher at 77,303.63, adding 639.42 points, while Nifty 50 rose 0.81% to 24,092.70, up 194.75 points. Trading saw Sensex swing from an opening of 76,856.05 to a session high of 77,420.04, and Nifty from 23,945.45 to 24,130.70.
Small and midcaps stole the show, with Smallcap 100 surging 1.90% and Midcap 100 up 1.47%, outpacing frontline indices. Realty, IT, Pharma, Media, and Metals sectors jumped more than 2%, joined by strong showings in Auto, Oil & Gas, and FMCG. Banks and financials underperformed.
Nifty 50 gainers were led by Sun Pharma, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, Adani Ports, NTPC, SBI Life, JSW Steel, HCL Tech, M&M, and TCS. On the flip side, Shriram Finance, Axis Bank, BEL, Tata Consumer, Trent, ICICI Bank, Eternal, and Nestle India posted the biggest drops.
Sealed in the presence of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Todd McClay, the FTA offers immediate 100% duty-free entry for Indian goods into New Zealand markets. India reciprocates with tariff reductions or waivers on 95% of imports from the partner nation. Launched on March 16, 2025, negotiations concluded in an unprecedented nine months.
The agreement marks a milestone in bilateral ties, injecting fresh momentum into trade flows. It played a pivotal role in today’s market upswing, helping indices snap their losing streak and restore optimism among traders.
