Sensex Climbs 480 Points, Nifty Holds Above 25,700; Auto, FMCG & PSU Banks Lead Rally

Indian equity markets ended the session on a strong note, with benchmark indices closing in the green despite weakness in broader markets and IT stocks.

The Sensex surged 480 points to close at 83,295, while the Nifty gained 142 points to settle at 25,713, successfully holding above the crucial 25,700 level.

📊 Market Snapshot

• Sensex: 83,295 (+480 pts)

• Nifty 50: 25,713 (+142 pts)

• Nifty Bank: 61,264 (+92 pts)

• Midcap Index: 59,256 (–258 pts)

Market breadth remained neutral, with the NSE advance-decline ratio at 1:1, indicating selective stock-specific action rather than broad participation.

🚀 Sector Highlights

🟢 Leaders:

• Auto stocks

• FMCG stocks

• PSU Banks

State-run lenders continued to attract buying interest, supporting the overall rally.

🔴 Under Pressure:

• IT stocks declined for the third consecutive session, weighing on sentiment.

🏦 Banking & Financial Movers

• Axis Bank gained over 1% after denying reports of bidding for a stake in CreditAccess Grameen.

• HDFC Bank, HDFC Life, and Shriram Finance were among the notable gainers.

• AU Small Finance Bank slipped 6% after being de-empanelled by the Government of Haryana.

Meanwhile, IDFC First Bank plunged over 16% after disclosing a ₹590 crore fraud at its Chandigarh branch.

📉 Stocks in Focus

Major Decliners:

• UPL dropped 14% following a restructuring announcement.

• HAL fell more than 3% amid developments related to the LCA Tejas aircraft programme.

Top Gainers:

• Morepen Laboratories surged 16% after securing an ₹825 crore global order.

• Olectra Greentech rose nearly 3% after winning a ₹1,800 crore Telangana e-bus order.

• Adani Ports advanced 3% after signing an MoU with NMDC and Brazil-based Vale.

🎯 Market Outlook

Despite broader markets underperforming, benchmark indices showed resilience by holding key psychological levels. The Nifty sustaining above 25,700 signals short-term strength, though continued IT weakness and stock-specific volatility may keep traders cautious.

Investors should focus on sector rotation trends, particularly in PSU banks and defensive pockets like FMCG, while monitoring developments in financial stocks.