Indian Benchmark Indices Edge Higher Amid Global Strength; Auto, IT, and Metal Indices Lead Gains

Market Update at 12:15 PM: On Wednesday, Indian equity markets traded in positive territory, supported by strength in global markets and stock-specific movements during the ongoing Q1FY26 earnings season.

The BSE Sensex rose 217 points, or 0.26 per cent, to 82,403, while the Nifty50 added 63 points, or 0.25 per cent, to trade at 25,124. Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, M&M, Bajaj Finance, Adani Ports, Bharti Airtel, Infosys, NTPC, Reliance Industries, and Tata Steel were among the major gainers on the Sensex. Meanwhile, BEL, Trent, HUL, ITC, Tech Mahindra, and Asian Paints saw declines.

In the broader market space, the Nifty MidCap index slipped 0.23 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index was down 0.44 per cent. Sector-wise, the Nifty Auto index gained 0.78 per cent, followed by Nifty IT, up 0.24 per cent, and Nifty Metal, up 0.26 per cent. On the other hand, the Nifty Realty index fell 2.72 per cent.

Market Update at 10:30 AM: India’s equity benchmarks gained on Wednesday, mirroring strength in Asian markets after the U.S. finalized a trade agreement with Japan, raising optimism for more global trade pacts.

Upside momentum was limited by lingering uncertainty around a potential India-U.S. interim trade agreement, with talks stuck on tariff reductions for farm and dairy products ahead of Washington’s August 1 deadline.

By 9:51 a.m. IST, the Nifty 50 was up 0.18 per cent at 25,106.4 points, and the BSE Sensex had advanced 0.20 per cent to 82,346.31. Out of the 16 key sectoral indices, 13 registered gains, while broader Small-Cap and Mid-Cap indices slipped about 0.3 per cent each.

Japanese stocks led the advance in Asian markets, with MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan climbing 0.7 per cent.

India is also expected to sign a free trade pact with the UK during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on Thursday, which could enhance bilateral trade ties.

In stock-specific moves, Colgate-Palmolive India slipped 2.1 per cent after reporting a profit decline due to higher competition and subdued urban demand. Jana Small Finance Bank dropped 6.1 per cent following weaker earnings and an increase in gross NPAs, while Dixon Technologies gained 2 per cent after posting higher June-quarter profits.

Pre-Market Update at 7:45 AM: On Wednesday, July 23, the Nifty 50 and Sensex are expected to open higher, extending previous gains after a U.S.-Japan trade deal announcement. As of 7:20 AM, the GIFT Nifty was trading near 25,163, up 79 points from its previous close, signalling a positive start for Indian benchmarks.

Asian markets opened on a firm note as U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “massive deal” with Japan, including a 15 per cent tariff on Japanese exports to the U.S. Wall Street closed mixed on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 up 0.06 per cent at 6,309.62 points, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.40 per cent at 44,502.44 points, and the Nasdaq declining 0.39 per cent to 20,892.69 points.

Indian markets on Tuesday closed nearly flat. The Nifty 50 slipped 0.12 per cent to 25,060.9, while the BSE Sensex ended marginally lower by 0.02 per cent at 82,186.81. Gains in Eternal following its Quarterly Results were offset by losses in Reliance Industries amid concerns over an India-U.S. trade agreement before the August 1 deadline.

Market focus today will be on Q1 FY26 earnings from Paytm and IRFC, which were declared post-market on Tuesday. Investors are also awaiting results from Infosys, Tata Consumer Products, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Bajaj Housing Finance, SRF, Persistent Systems, Oracle Financial Services Software, Coforge, Syngene International, Aditya Birla Real Estate, Force Motors, Bikaji Foods International, Maharashtra Scooters, PCBL Chemical, Supreme Petrochem and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra).

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net sellers on July 22, offloading equities worth Rs 3,548.92 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were net buyers, investing Rs 5,239.77 crore.

In commodities, gold touched a five-week high, holding at USD 3,430.19 per ounce, supported by a weaker dollar and lower U.S. Treasury yields. Brent crude rose 0.54 per cent to USD 68.96 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures fell 1.47 per cent to USD 66.21.

In currency markets, the U.S. dollar remained weak against the yen at 146.61. The euro traded at USD 1.1739, and the British pound was steady at USD 1.35235.

For today, Bandhan Bank, IEX and RBL Bank remain on the F&O ban list.

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.