Closing Bell: Sensex gains for 5th straight session, ends 356 pts higher; Nifty above 25,100;

BEL

jumps 4%,

BAJAJFINSV

j Fin up 3%

Indian equities closed on a positive note Friday, with the Nifty 50 notching its eighth consecutive advance. Softer U.S. labor market data helped ease concerns from a hotter inflation print, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve could begin rate cuts soon. Investor confidence was further buoyed by encouraging signals of progress toward reviving India–U.S. trade discussions. The S&P BSE Sensex settled 356 points (0.44%) higher at 81,904.70, while the NSE Nifty 50 added 109 points (0.43%) to close at 25,114. For the week, both benchmarks logged their second straight weekly gain, advancing around 1.5%, supported by a broad-based rally. Sentiment was also lifted by government tax reductions across hundreds of goods and renewed optimism on trade negotiations with the U.S. On Friday, the 30-share Sensex was driven higher by

s, , , Bank, i, and , which climbed between 1.3% and 4%. The IT sector, with its heavy exposure to the U.S. market, recorded its strongest week in four months, advancing 4.3%. Infosys—India’s second-largest IT services player—added to the momentum with its share buyback announcement, ending the session 1% higher. Looking ahead, attention now turns to the Federal Reserve’s September 16–17 policy meeting, where markets widely anticipate a 25-basis point rate cut, with expectations for at least two more reductions by year-end. Softer U.S. rates typically weigh on Treasury yields and the dollar, driving capital flows toward emerging markets like India. Taxation Update The deadline to file Income Tax Returns (ITR) for FY 2024–25 (AY 2025–26) is 15 September 2025, per the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India.