The Sensex ended the session at 82,566.37, up 221.6 points (0.27%), while the Nifty 50 closed at 25,418.90, rising 76.15 points (0.3%).
Broader Markets Stayed Positive
Nifty Midcap 100: +0.18%
Nifty Smallcap 100: +0.20%
Impact on the stock market
Sector-wise performance
Sectorally, the day had a clear winner:
Nifty Metal rose over 3%, the best-performing sector.
Meanwhile, the weakest pocket of the market was more defensive:
Nifty Healthcare was the top loser
FMCG, Chemicals, and Pharma also ended lower (relative underperformance)
| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | -0.76% |
| Healthcare sector | -0.96% |
| Oil & Gas sector | 0.78% |
| Real estate sector | 0.67% |
| PSU Bank in India | -0.79% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Share Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| Tata Steel | 202.32 | 4.37 |
| Larsen | 3,932.90 | 3.66 |
| Eternal | 275.35 | 3.40 |
| TMPV | 351.80 | 3.33 |
| Axis Bank | 1,363.70 | 3.33 |
Top losers today
| Company | Share Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| Asian Paints | 2,416.00 | -3.81 |
| SBI Life Insurance | 1,996.30 | -2.77 |
| Interglobe Aviation | 4,621.00 | -2.70 |
| Maruti Suzuki | 14,502.00 | -2.52 |
| TATA Cons. Prod | 1,107.20 | -2.17 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
Tata Motors: Revenue Grows, Profits Take A Hit
Tata Motors’ Q3 results drew mixed reactions. The company reported a 48% year-on-year fall in net profit at ₹705 crore, compared to ₹1,355 crore last year. The decline was largely due to one-time exceptional costs worth ₹1,643 crore, linked to land registration charges, new labour codes, and acquisitions.
Despite this, the topline told a stronger story:
- Revenue from operations rose 16% YoY to ₹21,847 crore
- EBITDA margin improved to around 12.5%
- Commercial vehicle sales rose 20%, with domestic volumes up 18% and exports jumping 70%
Tata Motors also reported a 100 basis point sequential rise in domestic CV market share to 35.5%. Management sounded confident about Q4 demand, citing government infrastructure spending and replacement demand as key drivers.
In short, profits took a temporary hit, but the core business momentum remains intact.
Swiggy: Fast Growth, But Losses Still Bite
Swiggy’s Q3 numbers highlighted the classic growth-versus-profitability debate.
The food and grocery delivery platform reported a net loss of ₹1,065 crore, wider than last year’s ₹799 crore. However, the loss narrowed sequentially from ₹1,092 crore in the previous quarter.
The growth numbers were hard to ignore:
- Revenue surged 54% YoY to ₹6,148 crore
- Average monthly transacting users grew 37% to 24.3 million
- Food delivery revenue rose 22% to ₹2,277 crore
- Instamart revenue jumped 74% to ₹1,052 crore
- Instamart’s order value more than doubled, growing 103% YoY
Expenses, however, climbed nearly 49%, keeping profitability under pressure. Compared to Zomato, which reported profits and added significantly more dark stores, Swiggy still has ground to cover.
Swiggy shares ended nearly flat at ₹323.85, reflecting cautious optimism but no clear excitement.
Coal India And BCCL: Policy Push Sparks Rally
Coal stocks were among the biggest winners of the day after the government designated coking coal as a ‘Critical and Strategic Mineral’.
Following the announcement:
- Coal India shares gained around 3%, hitting a fresh 52-week high of ₹456.95
- Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL) surged nearly 5%, trading close to ₹39
The move is expected to speed up approvals, boost domestic exploration, and reduce India’s heavy dependence on imports. Currently, about 95% of the steel sector’s coking coal requirement is met through imports, despite India having 37.37 billion tonnes of domestic resources.
The Economic Survey reinforced coal’s importance, noting:
- Coal accounts for 55% of India’s energy mix
- It fuels over 74% of total power generation
- FY25 coal production hit a record 1,047.52 million tonnes, up nearly 5% YoY
- Coal imports fell 7.9% in FY25
For investors, this signals long-term policy support and improved earnings visibility for coal-linked stocks.
Crude Oil: Global Tensions Push Prices Higher
Crude oil prices moved sharply higher amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Brent crude climbed 1.22% to $68.19 per barrel, while WTI gained 1.42% to $64.11. On the MCX, February crude futures jumped nearly 1.9% to ₹5,910.
The trigger was strong rhetoric from the US, warning of possible military action against Iran if nuclear talks fail. Iran produces around 3.3 million barrels per day and exports about 1.5 million barrels, making any disruption a serious supply risk.
There were also concerns about oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles nearly 20 million barrels per day globally.
Supporting prices further, US crude inventories fell by 2.3 million barrels last week, according to official data.
For India, higher crude prices are a double-edged sword — positive for energy stocks, but a potential risk for inflation and the rupee if prices stay elevated.
Conclusion: A Market That Rewards Selective Thinking
Thursday’s market session was a blend of policy optimism, stock-specific triggers, and geopolitical undercurrents. While the Economic Survey helped set a confident tone ahead of the Union Budget, corporate earnings presented a mixed bag.
Strong revenue growth from Tata Motors and Swiggy, government support for coal and metals, and steady gains in broader markets suggest investors are selectively bullish. However, global tensions and high operational costs in new-age businesses like Swiggy serve as a reminder that caution is still in play.
With the Union Budget 2026 just days away, market participants are likely to stay focused on policy cues, capex announcements, and sectoral allocations.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
