Indian equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed Wednesday’s session with slight gains despite significant market fluctuations. The Sensex concluded at 82,345, increasing by 487 points or 0.60%, fluctuating between 82,504 and 81,815 during the day. Similarly, the Nifty finished at 25,343, rising by 167 points or 0.66%, touching highs of 25,372 and lows of 25,188 before the close.
Investor sentiment was influenced by the announcement of December-quarter earnings and the finalization of the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement. Analysts noted that the market continues to trade cautiously below short-term moving averages, with immediate resistance levels at 25,400–25,450 and a stronger supply zone at 25,600–25,650.
Bharat Electronics Limited emerged as the top gainer on both the Sensex and Nifty, surging by 9%. Notable market supporters included ONGC, Coal India, Hindalco, Bajaj Finance, Power Grid, Adani Enterprises, Trent, Mahindra & Mahindra, Cipla, and Shriram Finance. Conversely, Tata Consumer Products experienced a 4.5% decline, along with other stocks like Asian Paints, Maruti Suzuki, Sun Pharma, Max Healthcare, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Infosys, and Eicher Motors, which saw losses of up to 4.2%.
The broader markets outperformed the benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 rising by 1.66% and the Nifty Smallcap 100 gaining a stronger 2.26%. Notably, public sector undertakings led the rally, with the Nifty CPSE index surging by 5% and the Nifty Oil and Gas index gaining 3.4%. The Nifty Metal index also advanced by 2.3%, while the Nifty PSU Bank index climbed by 1.7%, contributing to the positive market closure.
Experts highlighted that the domestic markets remained optimistic, supported by the India–EU FTA. They noted that broader indices outperformed, driven by strength in Metals, Financials, and Oil & Gas, while FMCG stocks experienced profit-booking as investors shifted focus towards cyclical sectors.
