The SENSEX Index Closes 0.19% Higher

India’s BSE Sensex finished about 0.2% up at 74,902.6 on Thursday, halting a three-day losing run, as bargain hunters stepped in after the recent sell-off. Volatility remained elevated, however, with the expiry of key monthly derivative contracts and the new closing auction mechanism contributing to sharp swings toward the close. Meanwhile, investor stayed cautious amid lingering concerns over surging oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty. Gains in banking, power and select heavyweight stocks helped offset losses in metals, pharmaceuticals and technology shares. Power Grid was the best-performing stock, gaining 2.3%, followed by Axis Bank (1.7%), UltraTech Cement (1.4%), NTPC (1.1%), Tech Mahindra (1.1%) and Bharti Airtel (1%). HDFC Bank, L&T and Kotak Mahindra Bank also advanced solidly. On the losing side, HCLTech lagged with a 2.4% drop, with Tata Steel and Trent falling 1.4% and 1.1%, respectively.

The SENSEX Index rose 138 points or 0.19 percent on Thursday to close at 74903 points. Leading the gains are Power Grid (1.94%), Bharti Airtel (1.12%) and Tech Mahindra (0.88%). Top losers were HCL Tech (-2.50%), Tata Steel (-1.51%) and Indusind Bank (-1.29%).

India’s BSE Sensex traded nearly flat on Thursday, to around 74,732, halting a recent decline after falling to its lowest level in nearly three months. The market remained under pressure from escalating Middle East tensions, with Brent crude holding above $100 a barrel, raising concerns over India’s import bill, inflation, economic growth and corporate margins. The rupee weakened to around 95.10 per U.S. dollar on Wednesday despite intervention by the Reserve Bank of India. Energy stocks provided some support, with ONGC (+2.0%) and Oil India (+2.4%) advancing as higher crude prices boosted the outlook for upstream producers. Shakti Pumps (+10.4%) also jumped after securing a ?235.92 crore order to supply 10,000 solar pumps, while Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv and Larsen & Toubro were among the early Sensex gainers. Investors remained cautious ahead of US inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s September policy meeting.