Sensex Rises 340 Points, Nifty Near 25,600; Banks, Metals, FMCG Lead

Indian equities traded choppy on Friday morning, as investors weighed the impact of rising crude oil prices triggered by escalating U.S.–Iran tensions against selective bargain-hunting in domestic stocks.

At around 10:20 AM, the BSE Sensex was up 230 points, or 0.28%, at 82,728, while the Nifty50 gained 83 points, or 0.33%, to trade at 25,538.

Within the Sensex pack, Bharat Electronics Limited, Larsen & Toubro, NTPC, Hindustan Unilever, and Titan Company led the gains, rising up to 1.5%. On the downside, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Bharti Airtel were among the top laggards, declining as much as 1.18%.

Broader markets posted modest gains, with the Nifty MidCap 100 advancing 0.32% and the Nifty SmallCap 100 edging up 0.09%.

Sectorally, weakness persisted in technology shares, as the Nifty IT index slipped 0.74%. In contrast, rate-sensitive and cyclical sectors saw buying interest, with the Nifty PSU Bank climbing 1%. The Nifty Metal and Nifty Private Bank indices rose around 0.5% each, while the Nifty FMCG gained 0.37%.

Global Cues

Markets across the Asia-Pacific region traded mixed as investors monitored rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell more than 1%, while South Korea’s KOSPI advanced over 1%. Mainland Chinese markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holidays.

Overnight, U.S. equities ended lower, reflecting a cautious risk-off mood. The S&P 500 declined 0.28%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.54%, and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.31%.

Investor sentiment remained fragile after Donald Trump reportedly stated that Iran had a limited window to reach a deal on its nuclear programme, raising concerns about potential military action.

Commodities

Oil prices remained in focus, with Brent crude hovering near $72 per barrel amid fears of possible supply disruptions linked to Middle East tensions.

Brent futures on the Intercontinental Exchange were trading 0.2% lower at $71.8 per barrel during the Asian session.