Indian equity markets ended higher on Wednesday, extending their winning streak amid easing global risk concerns and continued buying in select heavyweight stocks. The BSE Sensex climbed 347.14 points, or 0.45 per cent, to close at 77,155.62, while the NSE Nifty 50 gained 96.55 points, or 0.40 per cent, to settle at 24,085.70. During the session, the Sensex touched an intraday high of 77,218.99, while the Nifty hit 24,108.20.
Broader Markets Outperform
The broader market continued to outperform the benchmarks. The Nifty Midcap 100 advanced 0.52 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 0.79 per cent. The Nifty Microcap 250 index surged more than 1 per cent, highlighting strong investor interest in mid-, small- and micro-cap counters. Market breadth remained firmly
positive throughout the trading session.
Defence, PSU Banks Lead Sectoral Gains
Among sectoral indices, defence stocks emerged as standout performers, with the Nifty India Defence index rallying 3.91 per cent. PSU banks also witnessed strong buying, pushing the Nifty PSU Bank index up 1.75 per cent. Consumer durables, metals and information technology shares also contributed to the market’s gains. On the other hand, auto, FMCG and realty stocks witnessed mild profit booking.
Trent Tops Gainers List
On the Sensex pack, Trent was the top gainer, surging over 7 per cent. Bharat Electronics (BEL), Eternal, Tata Steel, Infosys and Titan were among the other notable gainers. Meanwhile, financial stocks remained under pressure, with Bajaj Finserv, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Asian Paints ending in the red.
Volatility Eases
Investor sentiment remained upbeat as the India VIX, often referred to as the market’s fear gauge, declined 1.3 per cent to 13.19, indicating easing volatility expectations. The cooling volatility environment and strength in broader markets helped domestic equities end the day on a positive note.
