The BSE Sensex stood at 83,467.66, up 862.23 points (≈ 1.04 %)
The NSE Nifty50 ended at 25,585.30, rising 261.75 points (≈ 1.03 %)
The Nifty MidCap 100 advanced 0.46%, while the Nifty SmallCap 100 edged up 0.24%, showing that broader market participation continued, though at a more moderate pace.
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Impact on the stock market
Sector-wise performance
Nifty FMCG led the pack with a 2.02% gain, fuelled by optimism around steady rural demand and festive-season spending.
Nifty Auto, Bank, Consumer Durables, and Realty indices rose over 1% each, reflecting widespread confidence across industries.
| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | 0.53% |
| Healthcare sector | 0.38% |
| Oil & Gas sector | 0.54% |
| Real estate sector | 1.90% |
| PSU Bank in India | -0.44%% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Share Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| Nestle | 1,268.00 | 3.82 |
| TATA Cons. Prod | 1,149.30 | 3.15 |
| Kotak Mahindra | 2,205.40 | 2.60 |
| Titan Company | 3,640.30 | 2.57 |
| Axis Bank | 1,196.30 | 2.28 |
Top losers today
| Company | Share Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| HDFC Life | 742.80 | -2.41 |
| Eternal | 350.50 | -1.09 |
| Shriram Finance | 672.50 | -0.69 |
| SBI Life Insurance | 1,835.70 | -0.27 |
| Infosys | 1,471.60 | -0.19 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
Zee Entertainment: profits take a hit as ad spending slows
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd disappointed investors with a 63% year-on-year drop in consolidated net profit to ₹76.5 crore for the September quarter, compared with ₹209 crore in the same period last year.
The company blamed the decline on continued weakness in advertising spending, as corporates remained cautious in allocating marketing budgets. Zee’s key channels, including ZeeTV and ZeeCinema, faced muted revenue growth, reflecting the broader challenges in India’s media and entertainment industry.
With digital ad spends eating into traditional channels and uncertainty around consumer sentiment, Zee’s short-term recovery could depend on festive advertising and any revival in discretionary spending.
HDFC Life: steady earnings, but investors unimpressed
HDFC Life Insurance Company reported a modest 3% YoY rise in consolidated net profit to ₹448 crore, up from ₹435 crore in the same quarter last year. The total premium income rose 15% YoY to ₹34,162 crore, driven by a healthy balance between new and renewal business.
- New business premium: up 12% YoY to ₹16,222 crore
- Renewal premium: up 18% YoY to ₹17,940 crore
- AUM: ₹5 lakh crore (up 11% YoY)
Despite these stable numbers, the stock fell nearly 5% intraday, touching a low of ₹726, before recovering partially to ₹743.40. Investors seemed to be factoring in near-term margin pressures, especially as GST impacts could slightly affect profitability in the second half of FY26.
Brokerages, however, remain optimistic about the long-term story:
- Jefferies: Buy, target ₹930 (22% upside)
- CLSA: Outperform, target ₹910 (20% upside)
- PL Capital: Buy, target ₹900 (18% upside)
The consensus is clear — margins may dip short-term, but strong growth in protection plans and improved unit-linked margins could support the company’s trajectory beyond FY26.
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HDB Financial Services: minor slip, but long-term story intact
The newly listed HDB Financial Services saw its shares decline over 1% after releasing its Q2 results. Since its July market debut, the stock has slipped more than 12%, reflecting a cautious investor mood around new-age NBFCs.
For Q2 FY26, the company reported:
- Net profit: ₹581 crore (down 1.5% YoY from ₹591 crore)
- Revenue: ₹4,545 crore (up 13% YoY from ₹4,007 crore)**
- Interim dividend: ₹2 per share for FY26 (record date: 24 October 2025)**
The dip in profit was largely due to higher loan losses and provisions. Asset quality also weakened slightly, especially in the commercial vehicle loan portfolio.
Brokerages offered a mixed view:
- Morgan Stanley: Equal Weight, target ₹805 (8% upside)
- Jefferies: Buy, target ₹900 (21% upside)
Analysts expect stability to return in H2FY26 as GST cuts and normalised business activity improve demand. For investors, HDB remains a watchlist stock — the fundamentals are intact, but near-term volatility may persist.
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Crude oil: geopolitical ripples shake up energy markets
Oil prices bounced back from a five-month low after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to halt imports of Russian oil — a move that could tighten global supply chains.
- Brent crude crossed $62 per barrel,
- WTI crude traded near $59 per barrel.
Although New Delhi has not officially confirmed Trump’s statement, the remarks triggered speculation about a potential reshuffle in global oil trade flows. India, one of Russia’s biggest crude buyers post-Ukraine war, has benefitted from discounted rates. Any restriction could push Indian refiners to seek costlier Middle Eastern alternatives.
Meanwhile, the UK imposed new sanctions on Russia’s major oil producers, two Chinese firms, and Indian refiner Nayara Energy, accusing them of handling Russian fuel. This development adds further pressure on the global energy market, already weighed down by trade tensions and rising inventories.
An industry report also revealed that U.S. crude stockpiles rose by 7.4 million barrels last week — the biggest jump since July — stoking fears of oversupply.
While geopolitical drama dominated headlines, market analysts believe that short-term price volatility may continue, especially as the U.S.–China trade tensions and sanctions dynamics evolve.
Conclusion
Thursday’s market action showed that investors are now laser-focused on company performance rather than broad economic cues. With all major indices in the green and Sensex nearing new highs, the overall tone remains upbeat — at least for now.
However, earnings volatility is evident:
- Zee is struggling with weak ad revenue,
- HDFC Life is balancing steady growth with margin pressures, and
- HDB Financial is learning to handle post-listing expectations.
External factors like crude oil prices and global trade friction could still add uncertainty to the coming weeks.
As India’s festive season spending picks up and more Q2 earnings roll in, the next few sessions will likely reveal whether this rally has true legs — or if it’s just another short-term rebound before consolidation sets in.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
