The auto and defense sectors stole the spotlight, topping the gainers’ list with Nifty India Defence and Nifty Auto indices shining bright. Positive momentum spilled over to infrastructure, oil & gas, realty, FMCG, energy, and pharma sectors, all posting gains. Metals, financial services, and PSEs, however, bucked the trend with modest declines.

Gains weren’t confined to largecaps; small and midcap indices also participated enthusiastically. Nifty Smallcap 100 advanced 0.83% or 149 points to 18,125, while Nifty Midcap 100 rose 0.35% or 208 points to 60,628, underscoring widespread market optimism.

Sensex heavyweights like Maruti Suzuki, ITC, Tech Mahindra, Eternal, Bharti Airtel, UltraTech Cement, Infosys, BEL, Adani Ports, HUL, TCS, Trent, and SBI fueled the index’s ascent. Countering this were declines in Tata Steel, NTPC, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, Axis Bank, Asian Paints, and HCL Tech.

Market analysts point to global developments, including UAE’s OPEC exit easing oil prices marginally, yet US-Iran geopolitical risks maintaining crude at about $110/barrel. The spotlight shifts to the Federal Reserve’s policy decision tonight, anticipated to influence global sentiment.

Most Asian bourses traded higher, including Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Jakarta, and Bangkok, while Japan observed a holiday closure. US stocks ended Tuesday on a subdued note, with Dow marginally down 0.05% and Nasdaq falling 0.90%.

With key global events unfolding, traders remain vigilant, but the strong sectoral performance in defense and autos suggests potential for further upside if broader cues align favorably.

Early momentum was spearheaded by pharmaceutical and realty sectors, which topped the gainers’ chart. Nifty Pharma and Nifty Realty led the charge, with supporting gains in healthcare, metals, IT, defence, and commodities indices—all firmly in positive territory.

Market breadth was impressive across market caps. Large-caps set the pace, but midcaps and smallcaps outperformed with Nifty Midcap 100 rising 1.34% or 794 points to 60,169, and Nifty Smallcap 100 gaining 1.37% or 240 points to 17,807. This all-round strength underscores investor resilience.

Sensex constituents shone brightly, featuring gainers such as Sun Pharma, Adani Ports, Tata Steel, Infosys, Kotak Mahindra Bank, M&M, L&T, Tech Mahindra, NTPC, ITC, Asian Paints, Eternal, Maruti Suzuki, Titan, SBI, Trent, Power Grid, Bajaj Finserv, Bharti Airtel, and IndiGo. Minor dips were seen in Axis Bank, BEL, and Bajaj Finance.

Most Asian bourses opened higher, including Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul, and Jakarta. Friday’s US session was mixed: Dow down 0.16%, Nasdaq up 1.63%.

Geopolitical developments added fuel, with reports of Iran offering a new peace initiative to the US to reopen Hormuz Strait and halt hostilities. Yet, momentum stalled after Islamabad talks were scrapped last week.

FIIs continued their selling spree, dumping Rs 8,827.87 crore in equities on Friday, but DIIs stepped in with Rs 4,700.71 crore buys, stabilizing the indices and paving the way for potential further upside.

Technology weighed heavily, making Nifty IT the top sectoral loser. Red flags also appeared in Services, Private Banks, Healthcare, Pharma, Financial Services, Infrastructure, and PSE indices. Bucking the trend, FMCG, Defence, Media, Metals, PSU Banks, and Realty sectors advanced into positive territory.

Sensex gainers included household names like HUL, NTPC, Trent, Bajaj Finance, Eternal, Kotak Mahindra Bank, UltraTech Cement, Bajaj Finserv, and SBI. Losers dominated with HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, TCS, ICICI Bank, Asian Paints, Power Grid, BEL, Indigo, M&M, Sun Pharma, L&T, Titan, Axis Bank, and Bharti Airtel posting declines.

Mid and smallcaps were uneven: Nifty Midcap 100 fell 0.15% to 59,995, while Nifty Smallcap 100 rose 0.21% to 17,679.

Asia offered no clear direction—gains in Tokyo, Shanghai, Bangkok contrasted losses in Hong Kong and Seoul. Wall Street ended Tuesday in negative territory, influencing the open.

Choice Broking’s Akash Shah highlighted Nifty’s position near 24,550-24,650 resistance, suggesting possible consolidation or profit booking ahead. Key support at 24,300-24,200 could provide a floor.

FIIs offloaded Rs 1,918.99 crore worth of stocks on Tuesday, but DIIs stepped in with Rs 2,221.27 crore in purchases. This institutional tug-of-war underscores the market’s resilience amid external pressures, setting the stage for intraday swings.

Minutes into trade around 9:38 AM, Sensex hovered at 77,129.47 (up 0.65%), and Nifty at 23,934.95 (up 0.67%). Midcaps and smallcaps stole the show, rising over 1% each, outpacing frontline indices.

Sector performance was mixed yet robust: Metals, autos, private banks, media, PSU banks, realty, and energy sectors jumped over 1%. Pharma ticked up modestly at 0.14%, contrasting IT’s over 1% slump.

Nifty 50 heavyweights like Shriram Finance, Asian Paints, Axis Bank, Eicher Motors, ICICI Bank, M&M, Bajaj Auto, Bajaj Finserv, and SBI drove gains. IT and pharma names such as Infosys, TCS, Sun Pharma, HCL Tech, and Tech Mahindra bucked the trend with declines.

Experts attribute the bounce to expectations of softening energy prices. ‘Recent market corrections pale against energy volatility, pointing to declining oil over 3-6 months,’ said a veteran analyst. This scenario may pressure growth and lift inflation mildly, but bodes well for stocks heading into earnings.

Technically, 23,660 acts as Nifty’s crucial support. Holding above supports a bull run to 24,250; breach could see correction to 23,200 amid gap fills. With US-Iran truce doubts lingering, today’s open underscores domestic market fortitude.

Broad-based weakness gripped mid and small-cap segments early on. Nifty Midcap 100 was down 0.29% or 159 points at 54,629, while Smallcap 100 tumbled 0.77% or 145 points to 15,750.

Sectoral performance painted a mixed picture, headlined by sharp drops in realty and oil & gas. Nifty Realty and Oil & Gas indices topped the losers’ chart. Defense, PSE, energy, consumer goods, media, automobiles, infrastructure, PSU banking, and technology also faced selling pressure.

Gainers were led by metals, FMCG, commodities, pharmaceuticals, private banks, healthcare, and financial services, providing some counterbalance.

Sensex constituents showed divergence: gainers included UltraTech Cement, ITC, Tata Steel, IndiGo, HDFC Bank, Kotak Bank, SBI, Bajaj Finance, HCL Technologies, and Hindustan Unilever. Decliners featured BEL, Mahindra & Mahindra, Trent, Power Grid, Bharti Airtel, Asian Paints, NTPC, Tech Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj Finserv, Eternal, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank.

Overseas, Asian markets were mostly red with Tokyo, Shanghai, Bangkok, and Jakarta down. Seoul and Hong Kong bucked the trend. Friday’s US session ended lower across indices, Nasdaq falling about 1%.

FII outflows persisted, with net sales of ₹10,716.64 crore last session, countered by DII inflows of nearly ₹10,000 crore.

Middle East unrest propelled oil prices higher, Brent at $104.3 (up 1.12%) and WTI at $99.13 (up 0.43%). This surge poses inflationary risks, potentially weighing on market recovery.

Investors eye global developments closely, as persistent oil spikes and FII selling could prolong the current consolidation phase.

Midcap and smallcap indices outperformed, with Nifty Midcap 100 up 0.48% and Nifty Smallcap 100 advancing 0.64%. Among sectors, IT shone brightest, gaining 1.23%, offsetting declines in auto (down 0.60%), FMCG (0.02%), and banking (0.85%). This follows Thursday’s rebound, where Sensex soared 1.14% and Nifty 1.17%, breaking a four-session slump.

Choice Broking’s Akash Shah pointed to critical technical zones: support at 24,500-24,550 for Nifty and resistance at 24,850. ‘RSI at 37.55 indicates emerging recovery signals post-oversold conditions,’ he observed. FIIs sold Rs 3,752 crore for the fifth day running, countered by DIIs’ Rs 5,000+ crore buying spree over seven sessions.

With markets volatile due to international headwinds, analysts recommend patience. Stick to fundamentally sound names during corrections. A clear Nifty break above 25,000 would validate bullish momentum and pave the way for a lasting uptrend, offering cues for strategic entries.

As trading progressed to 9:30 AM, losses moderated slightly with Sensex at 79,699.81 (-316.09 points, 0.40%) and Nifty at 24,679.30 (-86.60 points, 0.35%). Midcap and smallcap indices outperformed, with Nifty Midcap 100 up 0.48% and Smallcap 100 advancing 0.64%.

IT stocks stole the show, with Nifty IT soaring 1.23%. Autos lagged with a 0.60% drop, followed by banks (-0.85%) and FMCG (-0.02%). This reversal follows Thursday’s strong rebound, where Sensex jumped 1.14% and Nifty 1.17%, breaking a four-session slump.

Choice Broking’s Akash Shah points to Nifty’s critical support at 24,500-24,550 and resistance at 24,850. RSI climbing to 37.55 from oversold levels indicates emerging recovery signals.

FIIs persisted with net selling for five days, dumping Rs 3,752 crore in stocks, but DIIs countered with Rs 5,000+ crore buys over seven sessions, cushioning the downside.

With volatility spiking due to international headwinds, market watchers recommend patience. Stick to fundamentally sound names in corrections, and eye Nifty’s breach above 25,000 for bullish confirmation and new positions.

As trading progressed to 9:30 AM, losses moderated slightly with Sensex at 79,699.81 (down 316.09 points or 0.40%) and Nifty at 24,679.30 (down 86.60 points or 0.35%). Midcap and smallcap segments outperformed, with Nifty Midcap 100 up 0.48% and Nifty Smallcap 100 advancing 0.64%.

IT stocks stole the show, with Nifty IT surging 1.23%, offering a bright spot. However, auto, FMCG, and banking sectors faced headwinds, declining 0.60%, 0.02%, and 0.85% respectively. This follows a day of strong rebound on Thursday, where Sensex closed up 1.14% at 80,015.90 after four sessions of declines, and Nifty ended 1.17% higher at 24,765.90.

Choice Broking’s technical research analyst Akash Shah points to critical support for Nifty at 24,500-24,550, and resistance at 24,850. RSI reading of 37.55 indicates the market is emerging from oversold conditions, signaling possible stabilization.

FIIs persisted with sell-offs, dumping Rs 3,752 crore worth of equities for the fifth session in a row. DIIs countered this by purchasing over Rs 5,000 crore continuously for seven days, cushioning the market.

In this environment of heightened volatility and global risks, advisors recommend patience. Stick to quality stocks with solid fundamentals during corrections. Investors eyeing new positions should hold off until Nifty decisively breaks 25,000, paving the way for a bullish phase.

Sectoral performance painted a grim picture, with every Nifty index except IT in the red. Nifty IT surged 0.81%, standing out as the sole gainer. Heavyweights like Nifty Auto (-0.84%), FMCG (-0.99%), and Bank (-0.53%) dragged the market lower. Midcap and smallcap indices followed suit, down 0.41% and 0.51% respectively.

Sensex’s 30 stocks showed clear winners and losers. IT names continued their rally for the third day: Infosys, Trent, Tech Mahindra, Eternal, HCL Tech, and TCS emerged as top performers. Conversely, Maruti Suzuki, HUL, Ultratech Cement, M&M, Bharti Airtel, ITC, Asian Paints, and Kotak Bank saw the biggest drops, reflecting profit-taking in defensives.

Choice Broking’s Akash Shah dissected yesterday’s action: Nifty’s 83-point gap-up hit 25,572.95 intraday but reversed sharply by 170 points to 25,400, closing up just 14 points at 25,496.55. Resistance looms at 25,600-25,650, support at 25,300-25,350, with RSI neutral at 47.11. FIIs offloaded Rs 3,465 crore, countered by DIIs’ Rs 5,000+ crore buying spree.

Shah advises caution amid volatility: Stick to robust fundamentals on pullbacks. Long positions make sense only post a sustained Nifty break above 25,800, confirming upward momentum and structural positivity.

Key gainers included Nifty PSU Bank, India Defence, Energy, PSE, Private Bank, and Metal indices, which buoyed sentiment amid widespread caution. Conversely, IT, media, pharma, services, healthcare, and auto packs traded lower, weighed down by profit-taking and sector woes.

Smaller stocks felt the pinch more acutely: Nifty Midcap 100 declined 47 points to 59,180, and Nifty Smallcap 100 dropped 57 points to 16,963. The broader market’s vulnerability was evident, as investors rotated into safer bets.

Sensex top performers featured L&T, BEL, NTPC, HUL, Titan, Axis Bank, Power Grid, and Adani Ports, showcasing strength in infrastructure, defense, and consumer goods. Losers were dominated by tech names like Infosys, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, alongside Interglobe, Bharti Airtel, M&M, Asian Paints, and UltraTech Cement.

Overseas, Asian markets were mostly red with Tokyo, Hong Kong, Jakarta, and Bangkok declining, though Seoul advanced. Wall Street ended Thursday in negative territory. Analysts point to U.S.-Iran frictions as the primary culprit, fueling risk aversion and lifting oil prices—Brent at $71.81 (up 0.21%) and WTI at $66.56 (up 0.24%).

Institutional flows remained outflows: FIIs net sold 880.49 crore rupees, and DIIs offloaded 596.28 crore on Thursday. With crude firmness persisting, energy-sensitive sectors may see mixed reactions. Market participants brace for volatility, as defense plays provide a temporary shield in this uncertain landscape.