TODAY Sensex Gains 260 Points, Nifty Holds Above 23,200; Pharma and Banking Stocks Lead

Indian benchmark indices traded in a narrow range on Thursday, with support from pharmaceutical and banking stocks helping offset weakness in the information technology sector. Despite intermittent volatility, key indices remained relatively stable during the morning session. The Sensex was trading at 73,894.31, down 88.87 points (0.12%), while the Nifty 50 stood at 23,186.90, lower by 28.05 points (0.12%). Market sentiment remained cautious, reflected in a weak market breadth, as 2,178 stocks declined compared to 1,324 advancing shares. The technology sector remained under pressure, with the Nifty IT index slipping nearly 1.5%, weighing on the broader market. However, strength in select private banking and financial stocks, led by $ICICIBANK , along with gains in pharmaceutical counters, helped limit the downside and provided support to the benchmark indices. Investors continued to monitor sector-specific movements amid mixed market trends. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.