Sensex, Nifty Extend Gains For Third Day As Economic Survey Lifts Investor Mood

Indian equity markets ended higher for the third consecutive session on Thursday, recovering from early volatility as investor sentiment strengthened following the release of the annual Economic Survey.

The benchmarks opened on a cautious note but gained momentum during the session after the survey offered an upbeat outlook on India’s economic growth and fiscal discipline, helping indices close in the green.

The Economic Survey projected India’s GDP growth to be in the range of 6.8 to 7.2 per cent in the 2026–27 financial year. It also said the country is on track to meet its fiscal deficit target of 4.4 per cent in FY26, reassuring investors about macroeconomic stability.

At the close of trade, the Nifty index rose 0.3 per cent, or 76.15 points, to settle at 25,418.90, while the Sensex gained 0.27 per cent, adding 221.6 points to end at 82,566.37.

“A sustained breakout above this band could open the path toward 25,600–25,800 in the near term,” an analyst stated.
“On the downside, 25,300 is the immediate support, followed by a strong demand zone at 25,160–25,200,” an expert stated.

Metals, Infra Stocks Lead; Healthcare Drags

Buying interest was seen in metal and infrastructure-related stocks. Tata Steel, L&T, Axis Bank, Eternal and NTPC were among the top Sensex gainers, rising by as much as 4.5 per cent. In contrast, Asian Paints, IndiGo, Maruti Suzuki, TCS and BEL ended lower and were the biggest laggards of the session.

The broader market also reflected positive sentiment, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices ending higher by 0.18 per cent and 0.20 per cent, respectively.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Metal index emerged as the standout performer, jumping more than 3 per cent. However, the Nifty Healthcare index closed as the top loser of the day, followed by declines in the Nifty FMCG, Nifty Chemicals and Nifty Pharma indices.

Analysts said the markets managed to extend their winning streak as optimism surrounding India’s growth outlook and fiscal position outweighed concerns stemming from early-session volatility. Meanwhile, the rupee traded flat to weak near 91.94, down 0.12, as markets remained cautious ahead of the Union Budget.

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