Sensex & Nifty Edge Higher as Banking Stocks Lift Early Sentiment
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Summary: Markets begin slightly higher; banking stocks drive confidence, while pharma and metals show early weakness.
It was a steady start to the week for Dalal Street. Around 9:18 a.m., the Sensex was up by roughly 117 points, hovering near 81,324, while the Nifty 50 added about 28 points to trade around 24,922. The early lift came mostly from banking and financial stocks — the same sector that’s been carrying the market lately.
The Nifty Bank index climbed nearly half a percent in early deals, led by solid moves in Bank of Baroda, IDFC First Bank, and AU Small Finance Bank. Even the private and PSU banking indices were comfortably in the green, joined by IT stocks that showed small but steady gains.
Outside of those pockets, the mood was more mixed. Pharma, media, metal, and FMCG counters slipped around 0.3–0.5%, showing some profit-taking after last week’s run-up. Max Healthcare stood out as the top gainer of the morning, rising close to 3%, while Power Grid, Cipla, Titan, Dr. Reddy’s, and SBI Life were among the early laggards.
Market breadth leaned slightly positive — about 1,400 stocks were up against 1,200 down on the NSE — suggesting there’s still some buying appetite, even if sentiment remains cautious.
Investors now have their eyes on what comes next. The earnings season is about to kick off, with TCS set to announce results soon, and that could set the tone for the next few weeks. On the global front, the upcoming U.S. Fed minutes might nudge sentiment either way, depending on what they hint about future rate decisions.
Foreign flows are another factor to watch. FIIs have been trimming exposure, selling over ₹1,500 crore in equities on Friday, while domestic institutions added some support with modest buying. It’s a familiar tug of war — one that often decides how long these early gains can really hold.
For now, the tone feels calm but cautious. The banks are keeping the market’s head above water, but traders aren’t taking their eyes off the exits just yet.
