Stock Market Today: Sensex Jumps 450+ Points, Nifty Trades Above 24,150

Sensex Jumps 450 Points, Nifty Tops 24,150 As Global Rally Lifts Market Sentiment

Indian benchmark indices opened firmly higher on Thursday, tracking gains across Asian markets as strong earnings guidance from global semiconductor companies boosted investor confidence. Softer crude oil prices and a stronger rupee further supported the positive mood on Dalal Street.

At 9:28 am, the BSE Sensex was trading 454.62 points higher at 77,443.70, while the NSE Nifty50 climbed 134 points to 24,153.56.

Auto, Realty Stocks Drive Gains

Buying interest was visible across most sectors during early trade, with auto, realty and financial stocks leading the rally.

The Nifty Realty index advanced 1.23%, while Nifty Auto gained 1.03%. Financial services, IT, private banking and pharmaceutical stocks also traded in positive territory, helping benchmark indices extend gains.

Metal shares remained under pressure, with the Nifty Metal index slipping 0.65%.

Among the top gainers on the Sensex were IndiGo, Mahindra & Mahindra, TCS, Maruti Suzuki and HCLTech. Meanwhile, Eternal (Zomato), Bharat Electronics, Power Grid, Titan and Adani Ports were among the laggards.

The broader market also remained upbeat. The Nifty Midcap 100 rose 0.55%, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 added 0.15%.

India VIX, the volatility index often referred to as the market’s fear gauge, declined 2.68% to 13.03, indicating reduced market anxiety.

Global Tech Optimism Fuels Rally

Investor sentiment received a boost after encouraging updates from global semiconductor companies strengthened expectations around continued spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. Micron Technology reported customer commitments worth $22 billion for its memory chips, while Qualcomm projected annual data-centre revenue of $15 billion by 2029. The announcements triggered a broad rally in technology stocks and improved risk appetite across global markets.

Japan’s Nikkei index surged more than 2%, while South Korea’s KOSPI jumped 5.5%. MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan gained 1.3%, and Nasdaq futures advanced nearly 1.8%.

Falling Crude, Stronger Rupee Support Markets

The Indian rupee strengthened by 30 paise to 94.25 against the US dollar in early trade, aided by a further decline in crude oil prices. Brent crude futures slipped 0.5% to $73.34 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude eased 0.38% to $70.07 per barrel.

Lower oil prices are generally seen as positive for India, helping contain inflation, improve the current account balance and support economic growth.

Analysts Highlight Key Market Drivers

Market experts believe the sharp correction in crude oil prices has significantly improved India’s macroeconomic outlook. According to V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, falling oil prices have eased concerns over India’s current account deficit and balance of payments position, providing a strong tailwind for equities.

However, he warned that below-normal monsoon conditions remain a risk for sectors dependent on rural demand, including fertilisers, agrochemicals, tractors and entry-level two-wheelers. At the same time, sectors such as information technology, pharmaceuticals, premium consumption and export-oriented businesses are expected to remain relatively resilient.

With supportive global cues, easing oil prices and improving investor sentiment, Indian markets started the day on a strong note, extending their recent upward momentum.