Indian Markets End Week On High Note As US Tariff Delay Lifts Global Sentiment

Indian stock markets closed the week with strong gains, rallying nearly 2% as investor sentiment improved after the United States announced a delay in implementing new tariffs for all countries except China.

The move eased fears of a global recession, triggering optimism across equity markets, analysts said on Saturday.

Driven by the upbeat global cues, the Nifty 50 index opened with a sharp gap-up and tested resistance near its 20-day exponential moving average (DEMA) around 22,900.

Although it later traded within a narrow range, it managed to end the session at 22,828.55.

Sector-Wide Rally And Strong Index Performance

The Sensex mirrored the bullish tone, surging by 1,310.11 points or 1.77% to settle at 75,157.26. During the trading session, it touched a high of 75,467.33 before retreating slightly to a low of 74,762.84.

Also Read: India’s Industrial Output Grows 2.9% In February; Led By Manufacturing And Capital Goods

Meanwhile, sectoral indices painted a strong picture.

Metals, energy, and pharmaceutical stocks led the gains, while broader indices also bounced back sharply, climbing between 1.82% and 2.86%.

“The recovery, supported by a continued decline in the volatility index, is a positive sign, though such sharp moves remain challenging to trade,” said Ajit Mishra, Senior Vice President of Research at Religare Broking Ltd.

“A decisive close above 22,900 could pave the way for a retest of the key resistance zone near 23,400,” he added.

Rupee Strengthens On Weaker Dollar And Market Optimism

In currency markets, the Indian rupee snapped its three-day losing streak, strengthening by 65 paise to close at 86.04 against the US dollar.

The rebound was supported by a combination of factors — a softer dollar, easing crude oil prices, and strong gains in equities.

“The breadth of the market was strongly positive, with advancing stocks far outnumbering decliners. The advance-decline ratio on the BSE stood at 3.68 — the highest level since March 5, 2025,” noted Nandish Shah, Senior Derivative and Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities.

Small And Midcap Indices Surge Amid Global Trade Optimism

Small-cap and mid-cap indices posted impressive gains of around 2%, reflecting improved confidence that global supply chains may stabilize. Market participants expressed optimism that input cost pressures could ease if trade disruptions are averted.

However, experts also urged caution. “Shifting global policies make volatility inevitable,” said Abhishek Jaiswal, Fund Manager at Finavenue.

“While domestic developments offer promise, sectors reliant on exports should tread carefully. Still, I remain optimistic about India’s growth trajectory; we may see improved cost structures and renewed CapEx momentum.”

Bank Nifty Breaks Key Resistance; Maintains Bullish Momentum

The Bank Nifty index delivered a standout performance, opening with a gap-up and sustaining strong upward momentum throughout the session.

It closed at 51,002, decisively breaking past the crucial resistance zone of 50,750–50,800.

“Bank Nifty formed a big bullish candle on both daily and weekly charts, indicating underlying strength,” said Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP of Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C Mehta Investment Intermediates Ltd.

“The breakout level of 50,750 now acts as immediate support, and the index has the potential to rally towards 51,500–52,000. A ‘buy on dips’ strategy is advisable in the current setup,” he added.

Outlook: Key Levels To Watch

Looking ahead, analysts expect the 22,600–22,700 range to provide near-term support for the Nifty.

On the upside, the 23,000–23,100 zone is likely to act as immediate resistance.

With easing global concerns and technical indicators pointing upward, the Indian markets appear well-positioned for further momentum in the coming sessions — provided external volatility remains contained.