Indian equity benchmarks finished higher at the close on Friday, supported by gains in Power, Capital Goods and Metals stocks.
On the National Stock Exchange, the Nifty 50 ended the session up 0.46%. The BSE Sensex 30 also moved higher, adding 0.38% by the close of trade.
The leading gainers on the Nifty 50 included Hindalco Industries Ltd. (NSE:HALC), which climbed 3.35% or 30.35 points to finish at 936.00. NTPC Ltd (NSE:NTPC) rose 2.70% or 9.80 points to close at 373.00, and Larsen & Toubro Ltd (NSE:LART) advanced 2.33% or 99.60 points to end the day at 4,380.10.
On the downside, Infosys Ltd (NSE:INFY) slipped 1.28% or 17.60 points to close at 1,352.90. Eternal Ltd (NSE:ETEA) fell 1.16% or 3.15 points to 268.60, while Tech Mahindra Ltd (NSE:TEML) was down 1.03% or 15.30 points to settle at 1,464.00.
The BSE Sensex 30 session showed similar leadership. NTPC Ltd (BO:NTPC) led gainers on the index with a 2.66% rise to 372.80. Larsen & Toubro Ltd (BO:LART) added 2.37% to close at 4,380.00, and Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (BO:HLL) gained 1.71% to finish at 2,318.50.
Among the laggards on the BSE, Tech Mahindra Ltd (BO:TEML) fell 1.75% to 1,455.00 in late trade. Eternal Ltd (BO:ETEA) lost 1.27% to close at 268.50 and Infosys Ltd (BO:INFY) declined 1.21% to end at 1,353.00.
Breadth on the exchanges was negative. On the National Stock Exchange, decliners outnumbered advancers 1,420 to 1,078, with 51 stocks unchanged. On the Bombay Stock Exchange, 2,183 issues closed lower, 1,763 advanced, and 155 were unchanged.
Several notable price milestones were recorded during the session. Shares of Infosys Ltd (NSE:INFY) moved to 52-week lows, down 1.28% or 17.60 to 1,352.90. NTPC Ltd (NSE:NTPC) rose to 52-week highs, gaining 2.70% or 9.80 to 373.00. Larsen & Toubro Ltd (NSE:LART) reached all-time highs, up 2.33% or 99.60 to 4,380.10.
Similar milestone moves were reflected on the BSE. NTPC Ltd (BO:NTPC) rose to 52-week highs, climbing 2.66% or 9.65 to 372.80. Larsen & Toubro Ltd (BO:LART) hit all-time highs, gaining 2.37% or 101.20 to 4,380.00. Infosys Ltd (BO:INFY) fell to 52-week lows, down 1.21% or 16.60 to 1,353.00.
Volatility, as measured by the India VIX which tracks implied volatility of Nifty 50 options, increased 6.59% to reach 14.35.
Commodity markets were mixed. Gold Futures for April delivery rose 1.01% or 50.24 to $5,047.64 a troy ounce. Crude oil for April delivery declined 0.59% or 0.39 to $66.01 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract fell 0.54% or 0.39 to trade at $71.27 a barrel.
In currency pairs, USD/INR eased 0.02% to 91.00, and EUR/INR fell 0.17% to 107.01. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.04% at 97.89.
Summary of session characteristics:
- Nifty 50 closed up 0.46%.
- Sensex ended the day up 0.38%.
- Power, Capital Goods and Metals stocks were among the primary contributors to the market advance.
- Volatility increased, with India VIX up 6.59% to 14.35.
The market showed differentiated performance across sectors and individual large-cap stocks, with industrial and energy-related names rising while select IT and smaller-cap names lagged. Commodity and currency moves illustrated a mixed macro backdrop during the trading session.