The benchmark BSE Sensex rose 0.38% or 304.32 points to close at 80,565 and the broader NSE Nifty 50 index closed at 24,619.35, higher by 0.54% or 131.95 points.
Top Gainers & Losers
On the 30-stock Sensex, top performers included BEL, Eternal, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, which advanced between 1.4% and 2.3%.
On a sectoral basis, auto shares gained 1.1% and financials rose 0.4%.
Among individual moves, Apollo Hospitals surged 7.9% and Hindalco climbed 5% after posting earnings, making them the top gainers on the Nifty.
Beauty retailer Nykaa jumped 5.1% following a twofold increase in profit, while Paytm rose 3.1% after its payments arm won in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as an online payments aggregator.Broader markets also strengthened, with small-cap and mid-cap indexes advancing 0.7% and 0.6%, respectively.
Expert Views
Indian equities experienced a broad-based optimism as CPI hit an eight-year low, boosting hopes for a revival in discretionary spending, led by autos and metals, said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments , adding that midcaps outperformed, reflecting strong investor appetite. “Globally, sentiment improved on the extension of China’s tariff deadline and easing oil prices. Despite uncertainties around Trump’s trade stance and global risks, India’s growth-inflation dynamics remain favourable for FY26 with risk to marginal downgrade based on tariff updates. India looks forward to the Trump – Putin meet dated 15th August,” said Nair.
Global Markets
World equities hit record highs on Wednesday and the dollar weakened, as investors welcomed softer inflation readings, resilience in major economies, and growing expectations of a U.S. rate cut, boosting appetite for risk assets.
The MSCI All Country World Index rose for a second session, touching an all-time high of 950.13. Japan’s Nikkei extended its winning streak to six sessions, surpassing 43,000 for the first time and notching another record close.
In Europe, stocks gained 0.5%, with Germany’s benchmark up 0.6% as technology and defense names led advances. U.S. equity futures pointed higher, with S&P 500 contracts climbing 0.7%.
In digital assets, ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, surged to nearly a four-year high above $4,679.
Crude Impact
Oil prices slipped on Wednesday after the International Energy Agency projected supply would outpace demand this year, while traders looked ahead to a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
Brent crude futures fell 45 cents, or 0.7%, to $65.67 a barrel as of 0831 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate declined 53 cents, or 0.8%, to $62.64.
Rupee vs Dollar
The Indian rupee strengthened 0.3% against the U.S. dollar to 87.44 on Wednesday, its biggest one-day gain in over a month, as softer U.S. inflation data fueled expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September, pressuring the greenback.
The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency against six peers, slipped 0.44% to 97.66.
(With inputs from agencies)