Sensex Advances for 5th Day

India’s BSE Sensex closed about 0.3% up at 77,410 on Thursday, marking a fifth straight session of gains, supported by lower crude oil prices and sustained buying across key sectors. Investors weighed the US–Iran interim ceasefire agreement signed overnight against a hawkish tone from the US Federal Reserve, which kept rates unchanged but signaled that a hike could be on the table later this year. In equities, top gainers were IndiGo (2.7%), Trent (2.5%), BEL (2.1%) and NTPC (1.9%). SBI (1.6%), HDFC Bank (1.5%) and Axis Bank (0.7%) also advanced firmly. Conversely, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, TCS and HCL Tech posted the biggest declines, pressured by expectations of higher US interest rates.

The SENSEX Index rose 254 points or 0.33 percent on Thursday to close at 77410 points. Leading the gains are NTPC (1.93%), HDFC Bank (1.74%) and Tata Motors (1.12%). Top losers were Infosys (-2.57%), Tech Mahindra (-1.01%) and Maruti Suzuki (-0.92%).

India’s BSE Sensex edged up about 0.2% to 77,276 on Thursday, marking a fifth straight session of gains, supported by lower crude oil prices, though upside momentum was capped by losses in information technology stocks and caution after the US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and signaled a cautious outlook for monetary policy. Investor sentiment remained restrained after the Federal Reserve signaled the possibility of an interest rate hike later this year, strengthening the US dollar and dampening appetite for riskier emerging-market assets. Among individual stocks, HFCL gained attention after securing a major contract from Rail Vikas Nigam, while shares of BSE remained on investors' radar following the filing of a draft IPO prospectus by the National Stock Exchange. Notable gainers included NIACL (12.8%), Bharat Coal (7.6%), Netweb (4.7%), Wockhardt (3.7%), IFCI (3.7%), and HFCL (3%). On the losing side were, IDBI (-3.6%), One 97 (-2.2%), Infosys (-2%), and TCS (-0.8%).