India's equity markets ended the trading session on Wednesday with modest gains, supported by strength in sectors such as power, capital goods and oil and gas.
At the close on the National Stock Exchange, the Nifty 50 rose 0.17%. The BSE Sensex 30 similarly finished higher, adding 0.16%.
Winners and losers on the Nifty
Among Nifty components, Hindalco Industries Ltd. (NSE:HALC) was the top performer, advancing 3.50% - a rise of 36.70 points - to finish at 1,085.00. Reliance Industries Ltd (NSE:RELI) gained 2.83% or 37.40 points to close at 1,360.10. Bajaj Auto Ltd (NSE:BAJA) also posted a notable move, rising 2.52% or 257.50 points to end the session at 10,462.50.
On the downside, Bharat Electronics Ltd (NSE:BAJE) fell 2.26% or 9.55 points to trade at 413.40 at the close. Tech Mahindra Ltd (NSE:TEML) declined 1.92% or 28.10 points to end at 1,439.00. Eternal Ltd (NSE:ETEA) slipped 1.48% or 3.66 points to 243.55.
Movements on the BSE Sensex 30
Reliance Industries Ltd (BO:RELI) was among the leaders on the Sensex, rising 3.00% to 1,362.00. Financial and banking-related names also contributed to the upside: Bajaj Finserv Ltd (BO:BJFS) increased 1.33% to settle at 1,773.00, while Axis Bank Ltd. (BO:AXBK) gained 0.98% to close at 1,250.65.
The laggards on the Sensex included Tech Mahindra Ltd (BO:TEML), down 1.97% to 1,438.00, Eternal Ltd (BO:ETEA), which lost 1.58% to settle at 243.15, and Tata Steel Ltd (BO:TISC), down 1.15% to 206.90 at the close.
Market breadth and volatility
Market breadth was mixed but skewed slightly positive. On the NSE, advancing stocks outnumbered decliners 1,291 to 1,225, with 38 issues unchanged. On the BSE, 1,963 shares rose, 1,885 fell and 195 were unchanged.
The India VIX, a gauge of implied volatility for Nifty 50 options, eased 1.94% to 18.31, reflecting a marginal decline in expected near-term volatility.
Commodities and currency moves
In commodities trading, June gold futures were lower, down 1.46% or 66.66 to $4,491.34 a troy ounce. Crude oil also retreated: the July contract for U.S. crude fell 2.14% or 2.23 to $102.15 a barrel, while the July Brent contract dropped 2.77% or 3.10 to $109.00 a barrel.
On the currency front, USD/INR moved up 0.03% to 96.73 and EUR/INR rose 0.21% to 112.27. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures finished higher by 0.24% at 99.34.
This session's price action showed selective buying across commodity-linked and capital goods names, while some technology and metal-related stocks underperformed. Broader volatility trimmed slightly and both oil and gold softened, with modest moves in key currency pairs.