Indian Stock Markets Stage Strong Rebound on Friday
Benchmark equity indices in India witnessed a significant recovery on Friday, bouncing back from the sharp sell-off experienced in the previous trading session. The resurgence was primarily fueled by robust buying activity in key sectors such as banking and metals, providing much-needed relief to investors after Thursday's steep declines.
Sensex and Nifty Show Impressive Gains
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed by 316.57 points, which translates to a gain of 0.38 percent, settling at 82,814.71. During intraday trading, the benchmark index surged even higher, adding 633.94 points or 0.76 percent to reach a peak of 83,132.08. Similarly, the 50-share NSE Nifty advanced by 116.90 points, marking a 0.46 percent increase, to close at 25,571.25. The index also touched an intraday high of 25,663.55, rising by 209.2 points or 0.82 percent. Out of the Nifty's constituents, 36 stocks ended in positive territory, while 14 declined.
Top Performers and Underperformers of the Day
Among the Nifty50, the top gainers included Hindalco with a notable rise of 3.32 percent, followed by NTPC at 2.69 percent, and L&T with a 2.34 percent increase. Other significant gainers were SBI Life, Coal India, HUL, Power Grid, ONGC, and Tata Steel. On the downside, Kwality Walls led the losers with a decline of 3.01 percent, trailed by Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Grasim Industries, and HCL Tech.
For the BSE Sensex, top gainers featured NTPC, L&T, HUL, Power Grid, and Tata Steel, while Kwality Walls, Tech Mahindra, and Infosys were among the key losers. This performance highlights a sectoral shift, with banking and metal stocks driving the recovery, whereas IT shares continued to face pressure.
Expert Insights on Market Recovery
Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments Ltd, commented on the rebound, stating, "Indian equities rebounded after yesterday's sharp correction, led by strong buying in large caps as investors favoured their better risk-reward over premium-valued midcaps. Sentiment improved on clearer trade-agreement signals and India's entry into Pax Silica, which is expected to strengthen supply-chain security in AI, semiconductors, and critical minerals." He further noted that banking and metal stocks were at the forefront of the recovery, while IT shares lagged behind. Despite the uptick, volatility remained elevated due to persistent geopolitical risks.
Nair added, "Softer inflation data from Japan supported expectations of accommodative global policy. Structurally, markets remain constructive, though near-term moves are likely to stay flow-driven amid global uncertainties."
Global Market Context and Institutional Activity
Asian markets presented a mixed picture, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng declining by 1.10 percent and Japan's Nikkei 225 falling 1.07 percent, while South Korea's Kospi rose by 2.31 percent. Mainland China markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holidays. In Europe, indices such as Germany's DAX, Paris's CAC 40, and London's FTSE 100 were trading nearly 1 percent higher during mid-session deals. Conversely, US markets ended lower on Thursday.
On the institutional front, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 880.49 crore on Thursday, and domestic institutional investors also remained net sellers, divesting Rs 596.28 crore, as per exchange data. In commodity markets, Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, slipped by 0.31 percent to $71.44 per barrel.
This rebound underscores the resilience of Indian markets amid global headwinds, with sector-specific movements playing a crucial role in shaping investor sentiment and market dynamics.
