Indian equities ended on a strong note on Friday, April 17, with broad-based buying lifting benchmark indices and extending weekly gains. Improved global sentiment, easing crude prices, and hopes of geopolitical stability supported the rally.
Sensex rose 505 points (0.65 percent) to close at 78,493.54
Nifty 50 gained 157 points (0.65 percent) to settle at 24,353.55
Both indices posted gains for the second consecutive week
Nifty Midcap 100 advanced 1.27 percent
Nifty Smallcap 100 climbed 1.48 percent
Market breadth remained firmly positive
Gainers: Hindustan Unilever (up 4.75 percent), Nestle India (up 2.24 percent), JSW Steel (up 2.09 percent), Apollo Hospitals (up 1.93 percent)
Losers: Wipro (down 2.83 percent), HDFC Life (down 2.38 percent), Sun Pharma (down 1.04 percent)
All sectoral indices ended higher except IT, which slipped marginally
Nifty FMCG surged 2.65 percent, leading gains
Oil and gas, consumer durables, media, and metal indices rose over 1 percent each
Nifty Bank gained 0.85 percent; Financial Services rose 0.67 percent
Total market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms jumped to about ₹466 lakh-crore
This marks a single-session increase of roughly ₹5 lakh-crore
Hopes of easing tensions in the Middle East, particularly around US-Iran dynamics
Reports of a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon
Sharp fall in crude oil prices, easing inflation concerns for import-heavy economies
Return of foreign institutional investors as net buyers
Strengthening rupee supported sentiment
Sensex gained 1.2 percent for the week
Nifty rose 1.3 percent
Immediate resistance for Nifty seen at 24,430–24,450
A breakout could push the index towards 24,600–24,800 in the near term
Immediate support placed at 24,200–24,180
Market participants are now closely tracking Q4 earnings, which are expected to guide near-term valuations and FY27 outlook.
(By arrangement with livemint.com)
