FMCG Index Rises 2.5% Ahead of Q4 Results; HUL Top Nifty Gainer on Price Hikes

The Nifty FMCG index surged up to 2.5% in Friday’s session, emerging as the top sectoral performer with all constituents closing in the green. This marks the third straight day of gains for the index.

ver (HUL) led the rally, jumping nearly 5% to become the biggest gainer on the Nifty 50 after implementing price hikes of Re 1 to Rs 20 across key brands including Dove, Pears, Surf, and Red Label to counter rising input costs. Other FMCG stocks also gained ground. ITC, Nestle India, Tata Consumer, Colgate-Palmolive, Emami, and Dabur rose between 1.5% and 6%, supported by optimism around steady Q4 earnings, improving rural demand, and defensive appeal amid market volatility. HUL is set to announce its March quarter results on April 30, while ITC reports on April 21. Analysts expect the earnings season to provide clarity on volume growth and margin trends. The broader market remained positive, with the Sensex rising over 500 points and Nifty 50 closing above 24,350. Rising crude prices, however, continue to pose challenges for input costs.