Indian equities wrapped up the week on a positive note following the RBI’s MPC meeting, with benchmark indices posting gains despite early jitters. The Sensex ended 266.47 points higher at 83,580.40, marking a 0.32 percent increase, as Nifty 50 settled 50.90 points up at 25,693.70, up 0.20 percent.
The rally was spearheaded by fast-moving consumer goods and durables, where ITC delivered a stellar 5 percent jump and HUL rose 2.96 percent. Sectoral indices reflected this strength: Nifty FMCG soared 2.27 percent, consumer durables gained 0.96 percent, consumption 0.71 percent, realty 0.63 percent, private banks 0.63 percent, energy 0.61 percent, and oil & gas 0.51 percent.
Technology and pharmaceutical counters bucked the trend, dragging their indices lower. Nifty IT fell 1.47 percent, pharma 0.72 percent, India Defence 0.66 percent, healthcare 0.62 percent, and auto 0.52 percent.
Sensex gainers featured ITC at the forefront, alongside Kotak Mahindra Bank, HUL, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finance, Power Grid, Bajaj Finserv, Titan, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, M&M, and L&T. On the flip side, Tech Mahindra, TCS, Asian Paints, Eternal, HCL Tech, HDFC Bank, Infosys, and BEL posted losses.
Smaller stocks underperformed, as Nifty Midcap 100 edged down 0.02 percent to 59,502.70 and Nifty Smallcap 100 declined 0.27 percent to 16,938.65.
According to Sudip Shah of SBI Securities, Nifty’s session started softly, hitting a low of 25,492 intraday before rebounding to 25,694. Resistance looms at 25,750-25,800; a decisive break could propel it to 26,000-26,200. Key support rests at 25,550-25,500.
This post-RBI optimism underscores resilient domestic demand, setting a cautiously upbeat tone for the coming sessions amid global uncertainties.