The Sensex climbed 352.79 points (or 0.44%) to close at 80,595.03, while the Nifty edged up 43.05 points (or 0.18%) to finish at 24,377.25.
This modest uptick came ahead of a critical U.S. jobs data release, which could provide clues to the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates. However, the broader market tone remained cautious.
- Nifty Midcap100 was down 0.5%
- Nifty Smallcap100 edged up 0.24%
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) continued their buying streak for the 11th session in a row, pouring in a total of ₹37,375 crore. This inflow has been key in keeping the markets buoyant, alongside falling crude prices, India’s easing interest rates, and expectations of favourable trade ties with the US.
Impact on the stock market
- Nifty IT, Oil & Gas, Bank, and Auto indices all traded higher.
- IT stocks got a boost from Cognizant’s positive Q1 results and increased demand for AI-led services.
- TCS, Infosys, and HCL Tech rose around 1% intraday.
- Banking stocks saw selective buying, especially SBI, ahead of its Q4 numbers.
- IT stocks got a boost from Cognizant’s positive Q1 results and increased demand for AI-led services.
- Pharma, FMCG, Realty, and Energy were in the red.
Experts warn that mid and small-cap valuations are still lofty and recommend focusing on earnings visibility rather than chasing momentum.
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| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | 0.27% |
| Healthcare sector | -0.61% |
| Oil & Gas sector | 0.73% |
| Real estate sector | -0.49% |
| PSU Bank in India | 0.19% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Price (in Rs) | Change % |
| Adani Ports Share Price | 1,267.10 | 4.16 |
| Bajaj Finance Share Price | 8,862.50 | 2.64 |
| IndusInd Bank Share Price | 853.00 | 1.74 |
| SBI Share Price | 800.00 | 1.44 |
| Reliance Share Price | 1,422.40 | 1.24 |
Top losers today
| Company | Price (in Rs) | Change % |
| JSW Steel Share Price | 973.20 | -5.50 |
| Bajaj Auto Share Price | 7,836.50 | -2.41 |
| Eicher Motors Share Price | 5,437.50 | -2.33 |
| Hero Motocorp Share Price | 3,740.50 | -2.27 |
| HDFC Life Share Price | 727.75 | -2.14 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
Indian Overseas Bank: Healthy profits, cleaner books
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) posted a 30.1% YoY rise in Q4 net profit at ₹1,051 crore, with a sequential growth of 20.3%. Asset quality improved significantly:
- Gross NPA fell to 2.14% (from 3.10% YoY)
- Net NPA improved to 0.37%
This is a strong performance for a PSU bank and suggests improving fundamentals in the state-run banking space.
Jindal Steel: High volume, weak results
Jindal Steel’s stock edged up 0.51% to close at ₹900.20, supported by a surge in trading volume.
However, fundamentals painted a less optimistic picture:
- Q4 FY25 Net Profit: Loss of ₹294.44 crore vs profit of ₹950.80 crore in Q3
- Revenue grew to ₹13,183 crore, up from ₹11,750 crore in the previous quarter
Annual net profit more than halved to ₹2,854 crore (from ₹5,943 crore in FY24). Despite an improved balance sheet with reserves up to ₹47,083 crore, the market remains cautious. Sentiment around the stock is currently neutral.
Divi’s Laboratories: Quiet but bullish climb
Shares of Divi’s Labs closed 0.83% higher at ₹6,138.00, backed by a notable volume surge and bullish investor sentiment.
The company’s performance over the last five quarters shows consistent growth:
- Q4 FY25 Revenue: ₹2,319 crore
- Net Profit: ₹589 crore
- EPS: ₹22.20
Annual revenue stood at ₹7,845 crore, with a healthy dividend payout of ₹30 per share. With its clean balance sheet and future-focused R&D, Divi’s continues to be a favorite in the pharma space, despite today’s sectoral lag.
Crude oil rises up on trade optimism
Crude oil futures ticked higher today, as hopes of a US-China tariff truce lifted market sentiment:
- Brent July futures: $62.53, up 0.64%
- WTI June futures: $59.66, up 0.71%
- MCX May futures: ₹5,017, up 0.91%
China’s commerce ministry said it’s open to dialogue if the US shows sincerity and lifts unilateral tariffs. Any cooling of this trade standoff between the world’s largest oil consumers bodes well for crude demand.
Adding to the geopolitical heat, US President Trump threatened secondary sanctions on Iranian oil buyers, further tightening global supply outlooks.
Conclusion:
Today’s market action reflects a fine balance between optimism and caution. While benchmark indices edged up, mid and smallcap segments continued to underperform.
FII inflows, falling crude, and better-than-expected Q4 earnings from select companies gave bulls a reason to cheer. Yet, technical resistance, geopolitical risks, and valuation concerns continue to cap the upside.
As India remains one of the few bright spots in the global economy, short-term volatility aside, the long-term fundamentals still look intact—especially if trade deals, lower interest rates, and strong earnings growth continue to play out.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
