The benchmark indices edged higher, gaining nearly half a per cent on Wednesday, as investor sentiment remained boosted by expectations of a potential US Federal Reserve rate cut, trade deal with the US and fresh foreign inflows.
According to Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments, the strong momentum was supported by positive cues from Asian markets and improved clarity on global trade dynamics.
Sensex ended 368.97 points or 0.44 per cent positive at 84,997.13 after hitting an intraday high of 85,105.83 against 84,628.16 previous close. After scaling near 26,100 mark, Nifty 50 settled with 117.70 points or 0.45 per cent gains at 26,053.90.
Nifty continued its steady upward march throughout the session, extending the positive momentum witnessed during the sharp surge in the last hour of the monthly expiry day, Sudeep Shah, Head – Technical Research and Derivatives, SBI Securities, said.
It had earlier scaled over 26,200 level in September 2024.
Nifty Midcap 100 hits 52-week high intraday
Market breadth was decisively positive, as advancing stocks outpaced decliners, leading to a strong advance-decline ratio of 1.5 on BSE. The upbeat mood extended to broader markets, with both midcap and smallcap indexes as they closed with 0.64 per cent and 0.43 per cent gains, respectively. During the intraday, Nifty midcap 100 scaled to hit a 52-week high of 60,216.55.
Oil & metal stocks shine
Sectorally, metal and oil & gas indices outperformed, each rising nearly 2 per cent, while auto and select financial services saw mild profit booking.
Oil stocks led the rally as crude prices eased expectations of higher OPEC+ output, while metal stocks advanced amid firm commodity prices and supply constraints, Nair added.
Bank Nifty shrugged off its initial weakness and rose steadily through the session, eventually closing at 58,385 with a gain of 0.29 per cent.
AMC stocks under pressure
Capital Market index experienced the most decline, shedding over 1.79 percent, Shrikant Chouhan, Head Equity Research, Kotak Securities, said. The asset‐management space faced headwinds as stocks of major fund houses such as HDFC AMC, UTI AMC and Nippon Life AMC, came under pressure following regulatory concerns about proposed fee-structure changes by the SEBI around expense ratios and brokerage limits.
Top gainers & losers today
Shares of NTPC, Adani Ports, ONGC, Power Grid, JSW Steel and Adani Enterprises emerged as top gainers of Nifty 50, while Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Coal India, Bharat Electronics, Eternal and Mahindra & Mahindra were the major laggards.
Of the total 3,203 stocks that were traded on the National Stock Exchange, 1,984 advanced, 1,128 stocks declined and 91 remained unchanged. Nearly 85 stocks, including Hindustan Petroleum, CUB, Bharti Airtel and Grasim Industries, scaled to hit their 52-week highs, while 42 hit their 52-week low.
In addition, 87 stocks hit the upper circuit, while 47 hit the lower circuit.
Midcap & smallcap movers
SAIL, M&M Financial Services, HUDCO, Hindustan Petroleum and BHEL soared 4-6 per cent, leading the chart of mid-cap gainers. Motilal Oswal Financial Services, HDFC AMC, 360 One WAM dragged 4-8 per cent.
Under the smallcap segment, Five-Star Business, Aditya Birla Real Estate, Reliance Power, NBCC and MRPL zoomed 4-13 per cent, while CreditAccess, KFin Tech, CAMS and Star Health depreciated 3-5 per cent.
On the BSE, Blue Dart Express, Five-Star Business, Adani Green Energy and Varun Beverages rallied 9-20 per cent following September 2025 quarter results. Cartrade Tech shares witnessed profit booking following yesterday’s gains. Key earnings announcements scheduled for tomorrow include ITC, NTPC, Adani Power, DLF and Hyundai Motor.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth ₹10,339.80 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data.
On Tuesday, the Sensex declined 150.68 points or 0.18 per cent to settle at 84,628.16. The Nifty dipped 29.85 points or 0.11 per cent to 25,936.20.
The upcoming US Fed decision remains a key event for global markets, although a 25-bps rate cut is widely anticipated. Investors will closely track its commentary for further rate cuts, which will guide the future market trajectory.
Optimism around trade progress, upcoming earnings, and sustained FII inflows is expected to lend support to near-term market sentiment, Siddhartha Khemka – Head of Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said.
Published on October 29, 2025
