Indian Markets End Higher Amid Trade Deal Hopes & Value Buying

Indian stock markets closed in the green on Friday after a volatile day marked by cautious optimism over India-US trade talks.

Sensex hit a low of 83,015 during intraday trade but recovered to close at 83,432.89, gaining 193.42 points or 0.23%.

Nifty also gained ground, rising 55.70 points or 0.22%, ending the session at 25,461 with support from key sectors.

Investors focused on value buying in IT and banking stocks as discussions on an interim trade deal with the US progressed.

Geojit’s Vinod Nair said investors are cautious due to mixed global signals and the upcoming US tariff decision.

Volatility remained high throughout the session as global markets offered no clear direction and traders stayed defensive.

Major gainers on the Sensex included Bajaj Finance, Infosys, HCL Tech, Ultratech Cement, and TCS, which boosted the index.

Meanwhile, Sun Pharma, ITC, Tata Motors, and Asian Paints dragged down overall market sentiment with their weak performance.

Out of the Nifty index, 31 stocks advanced while 19 ended the session in the red, reflecting mixed investor sentiment.

Among sectoral indices, Nifty IT rose 0.80%, while Bank Nifty and Financial Services gained 0.42% and 0.49% respectively.

Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 ended flat, indicating selective interest in broader markets after recent sharp rallies.

Religare’s Ajit Mishra said heavyweight stocks staged a strong recovery in the second half, erasing earlier market losses.

Foreign investors continued to sell, reflecting global risk aversion, while domestic funds provided partial market support.

Analysts say valuations remain elevated near all-time highs, with further gains depending on Q1 earnings and trade clarity.

In mid and small-cap segments, stock-specific momentum returned as investors remained selective after recent broad-based gains.

Markets may continue to consolidate as traders monitor global trends and await fresh domestic corporate earnings cues.

Also read: Markets Open Slightly Higher As Global Sentiment Remains Mixed