Indian stock markets ended sharply higher on Wednesday, January 28, as buying returned across sectors and investor confidence improved on hopes around the India–EU free trade agreement.
The Sensex climbed 487 points, or 0.60 percent, to close at 82,344.68. The Nifty 50 also ended firmly in the green, rising 167 points, or 0.66 percent, to 25,342.75.
The strong session added nearly ₹6 lakh-crore to investor wealth, with the total market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies increasing to about ₹460 lakh-crore from around ₹454 lakh-crore in the previous session.
Notably, the rally was broader than recent sessions, with mid and small-cap stocks outperforming the frontline indices. The BSE Midcap 150 index jumped 1.69 percent, while the Smallcap 250 index surged 1.81 percent.
Here are 10 key takeaways for retail investors from today’s market action:
Markets gained mainly due to short covering and renewed optimism around the India–EU free trade agreement, which is expected to support exports, manufacturing, and long-term growth.
“Domestic markets displayed continued optimism, supported by the India–EU FTA,” said Vinod Nair of Geojit Investments Limited.
Unlike some recent sessions where gains were limited to a few large stocks, today’s rally was broader. Mid and small-cap stocks saw strong buying interest, indicating improving risk appetite among investors.
Out of 50 Nifty stocks, 32 ended higher. Bharat Electronics jumped 9.21 percent, ONGC rose 8.18 percent, and Coal India gained 5.27 percent.
Some consumer-facing stocks remained under pressure. Tata Consumer Products fell 4.55 percent, Asian Paints declined 4.22 percent, and Maruti Suzuki India slipped 2.39 percent.
Most sector-wise indices closed higher. Oil and gas stocks led the gains, followed by metal, media, PSU banks, and real estate.
FMCG, pharma, and healthcare stocks under-performed, reflecting selective profit-taking in defensive sectors.
Banking stocks showed steady gains. The Nifty Bank index rose 0.66 percent, while the Financial Services index gained 1 percent, offering support to the broader market.
Market breadth stayed positive, with over 2,900 stocks advancing and around 1,300 declining on the BSE — a sign of healthy participation across the market.
Seventeen stocks jumped more than 15 percent, including Sterlite Technologies, Redtape, Mahindra Logistics, and Shilchar Technologies. Retail investors should note that such sharp moves often come with higher risk.
About 86 stocks touched their 52-week highs, including Axis Bank, Bharat Electronics, SBI, Tata Steel, and Tech Mahindra.
At the same time, around 261 stocks hit fresh 52-week lows, reminding investors that stock-specific risks remain high despite the market rally.
With the Union Budget approaching, markets may remain volatile. Experts suggest retail investors avoid chasing sharp rallies, focus on quality stocks, and stick to a diversified, long-term investment approach.
(By arrangement with livemint.com)
