Sensex at 1-Month High on US-Iran Talks Hopes

India’s BSE Sensex finished about 1.6% firmer at 78,111 on Wednesday, the highest in over a month, on easing geopolitical concerns. Investor sentiment improved after President Trump indicated that a second round of US-Iran talks could take place within two days, adding that both sides are keen to reach a deal. This helped ease oil prices, despite the continued US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Sectorally, gains were broad-based. Oil-sensitive stocks, including IndiGo (4.6%), Asian Paints (3%) and Reliance Industries (2.3%) were among the top performers. Infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro, exposed to the Middle East, rose 3.1%. Banks attracted buying interest, with HDFC Bank, Kotak Bank and Bajaj Finserv up around 2% each, while IT stocks also advanced, led by Tech Mahindra and TCS, each rising 3.3%. On the downside, Bahrti Airtel (-0.6%) and ICICI Bank (-0.2%) posted modest declines.

The SENSEX Index went up by 1258 points or 1.64 percent on Wednesday to close at 78105 points. The rise was led by Power Grid (4.21%), Eternal Limited (3.62%) and Tech Mahindra (3.28%).

India’s BSE Sensex rose about 1.5% to 78,010 on Wednesday, rebounding from losses in the previous session and tracking other Asian peers, lifted by renewed hopes for US-Iran peace talks that drove oil prices below $100 per barrel. US President Trump said discussions with Iran could resume in Pakistan within the next two days after collapsing last weekend, reinforcing expectations of a de-escalation in the conflict. On broader corporate developments, ICICI Prudential AMC reported strong profit growth on robust retail inflows, Swaraj Engines posted solid earnings gains reflecting rural demand strength, Hindustan Zinc secured a new mineral block to expand resources, and HG Infra Engineering won a 5.19 billion rupee contract, highlighting continued momentum in India’s financial, industrial, and infrastructure sectors. HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, Vedanta, and Reliance Industries saw gains of 0.6%-1.7%, while Infosys rose 3.3%, Hindalco added 3.8%, and Billionbrains jumped 5.3%.