Stock Markets July 31, 2026 06:30 AM

Indian markets end higher as financials and industrials lead gains

Nifty rises modestly as Bajaj Finance hits record highs while IT names weigh on the benchmark

By Hana Yamamoto
Share
Twitter Reddit Facebook LinkedIn

Indian equity benchmarks closed higher on Friday, supported by sector gains in autos, capital goods and power. The Nifty 50 advanced 0.27% and the BSE Sensex gained 0.21%, with Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserv among the session's strongest performers and large-cap IT stocks posting notable declines. Broader market breadth was positive across both exchanges, while volatility eased and mixed moves in commodities and currencies were recorded.

Indian markets end higher as financials and industrials lead gains
Summarize with
ChatGPT Perplexity Claude Grok Gemini

Key Points

  • Nifty 50 closed up 0.27% and BSE Sensex up 0.21%, led by gains in Auto, Capital Goods and Power sectors.
  • Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserv were among the session's strongest stocks, with Bajaj Finance reaching all-time highs; major IT names including TCS and Infosys declined.
  • Market breadth was positive across both exchanges; India VIX fell, while gold prices dropped and oil prices rose, and the rupee strengthened against the dollar and euro.

Indian equities finished the session in positive territory on Friday, with leadership from the Auto, Capital Goods and Power sectors helping push indices slightly higher.

On the National Stock Exchange at the close, the Nifty 50 was up 0.27%. The BSE Sensex rose 0.21% by the end of trading.


Top gainers

  • Bajaj Finance Ltd (NSE:BJFN) led gains on the Nifty 50, climbing 8.32% or 87.70 points to finish at 1,141.20. The stock also reached all-time highs during the session. On the BSE listing, Bajaj Finance rose 8.04% to 1,141.00.
  • Bajaj Finserv Ltd (NSE:BJFS) added 6.37% or 121.60 points to close at 2,031.00 on the NSE, while the BSE print showed a 6.60% increase to 2,035.00.
  • Jio Financial Services Ltd (NSE:JIOF) finished higher by 3.77% or 9.30 points at 256.25 in late trade on the NSE.

Notable decliners

  • Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (NSE:TCS) was the largest drag on the Nifty 50, falling 2.68% or 65.20 points to close at 2,366.60 on the NSE. On the BSE, TCS was down 2.71% to 2,366.00.
  • Eternal Ltd (NSE:ETEA) slipped 2.58% or 8.00 points to end at 302.65 on the NSE and lost 2.67% to 302.50 on the BSE.
  • Infosys Ltd (NSE:INFY) declined 2.18% or 25.20 points to 1,129.90 on the NSE, with the BSE close recorded at 1,130.00, down 2.26%.

On the Sensex 30, other top performers included Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (BO:MAHM), which gained 3.58% to close at 3,396.25.

Market breadth was positive on both exchanges. On the National Stock Exchange, advancing issues outnumbered decliners 1,576 to 976, with 48 stocks unchanged. On the Bombay Stock Exchange, 2,372 stocks rose, 1,584 fell and 186 were unchanged.

The India VIX, which tracks implied volatility in Nifty 50 options, eased 2.86% to 11.81 by the close.


Commodities and currencies

Precious and energy markets recorded mixed moves. Gold futures for August delivery declined 1.24% or $50.80, settling at $4,049.30 per troy ounce. Crude oil for September delivery rose 0.65% or $0.54 to $84.13 a barrel, while the October Brent contract increased 0.76% or $0.66 to $87.54 a barrel.

In currency markets, the Indian rupee strengthened modestly against the dollar and euro. USD/INR fell 0.26% to 95.43, and EUR/INR moved down 0.54% to 109.72. The US Dollar Index futures were up 0.35% at 100.07.


Additional note on Bajaj Finance

Shares of Bajaj Finance were highlighted as reaching all-time highs in the session, with both NSE and BSE prints showing strong percentage gains and closing prices just above 1,141 on both exchanges.

This session’s performance featured concentrated strength among select financials and industrial names, while large IT components exerted downward pressure on the benchmarks. Volatility as measured by the India VIX moved lower, and a mixed backdrop in commodities and currency rates rounded out trading activity.

Risks

  • Concentration of gains in a few large financial and industrial names - if those stocks reverse, headline indices could be vulnerable (affects Financials and Industrials sectors).
  • Weakness in major IT stocks such as TCS and Infosys could pressure the broader market and weigh on sector performance (affects Information Technology sector).
  • Commodity and currency swings - falling gold and rising oil, alongside moves in USD/INR and EUR/INR, introduce cost and currency risk for corporates and markets (affects Commodities, Energy, and Export-oriented sectors).

More from Stock Markets

Marvell, Astera Labs Stocks Rally After Amazon Discloses $25 Billion Run Rate for Custom Chips Jul 31, 2026 EU Clears $55 Billion PIF Bid for Electronic Arts Under Subsidy Rules Jul 31, 2026 ExxonMobil Posts Biggest Quarterly Profit in Four Years but Falls Short of Street Estimates Jul 31, 2026 Westinghouse Submits Confidential S-1 for US IPO, Remains Privately Held by Cameco and Brookfield Jul 31, 2026 U.S. Safety Regulator Opens Probe into 1.2 Million Tesla Vehicles Over Suspension Detachments Jul 31, 2026