Mumbai, October 29, 2025 (Wednesday):
The Indian stock market kicked off midweek trading with strong gains, led by energy, banking, and IT stocks. The BSE Sensex surged over 250 points while the NSE Nifty 50 reclaimed the 26,000 mark, boosted by positive global cues and renewed investor confidence.
At 12:30 PM, the Sensex was trading at 65,478 (+0.38%), and the Nifty 50 stood at 26,020 (+0.32%). Market sentiment turned upbeat following stability in global crude prices and sustained buying in heavyweights like Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, and Infosys.
🏦 Market Overview: Bulls Regain Control
After a volatile session earlier this week, markets regained momentum as investors shrugged off inflation concerns. The rebound in banking and oil & gas stocks played a crucial role.
“After several days of profit booking, we’re finally seeing a renewed bullish sentiment. The return of FII inflows has added strength to the market,” said Ravi Shah, Senior Analyst at Kotak Securities.
Broader indices also moved in sync with the benchmark indices — Nifty Midcap 100 rose by 0.52% and Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 0.49%.
🛢️ Oil Stocks Fuel the Rally
Energy stocks dominated the day as Brent crude traded near $88 per barrel, signaling higher refining margins for Indian companies. Reliance Industries, ONGC, and Indian Oil Corporation saw gains between 0.8% to 1.5%.
Analysts believe that continued demand from China and OPEC’s stable output outlook have given a short-term boost to oil-linked sectors.
“Refiners are the surprise winners this quarter. As long as crude stays below $90, Indian energy companies will maintain healthy margins,” said Meera Bhatia, Commodities Strategist at ICICI Direct.
🏦 Banking & IT Stocks Join the Party
Banking stocks also lent support, with HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank posting modest gains. The sector benefited from stable lending growth and expectations that the RBI will maintain its current policy stance.
In the IT space, Infosys and TCS saw buying interest as the U.S. tech earnings season showed resilience. “The IT index is slowly recovering after months of consolidation,” said Ankit Taneja, Market Analyst at Groww.
💰 FII Flows Turn Positive
After five consecutive sessions of selling, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) turned net buyers, signaling renewed confidence in Indian equities.
Data from NSDL showed inflows worth ₹1,247 crore on October 28, led by energy and BFSI sectors. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also supported the market with steady buying.
“Foreign investors seem to be rotating back to emerging markets, with India at the top of that list,” added Shah.
📊 Sector-Wise Snapshot
| Sector | Performance | Key Gainers |
|---|---|---|
| Oil & Gas | +0.9% | Reliance, ONGC |
| Banking | +0.7% | HDFC Bank, Axis Bank |
| IT | +0.6% | Infosys, TCS |
| FMCG | +0.3% | HUL, ITC |
| Pharma | -0.2% | Dr. Reddy’s, Sun Pharma |
🌏 Global Cues Support Market Sentiment
Asian markets traded mixed but largely stable — the Hang Seng Index gained 0.8%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped slightly by 0.3%.
In the U.S., futures pointed to mild gains ahead of key inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting next week.
“The global sentiment is improving. Investors are relieved that major central banks may pause rate hikes this quarter,” explained Sanjay Ghosh, Global Macro Analyst, Edelweiss Securities.
🔮 Outlook: Bulls to Stay in Charge?
With earnings season nearing its end, experts expect domestic markets to remain range-bound but positive. Analysts recommend focusing on energy, banking, and mid-cap counters for short-term gains.
“Investors should stay selective — focus on quality stocks with strong fundamentals. The next resistance for Nifty is at 26,180 and support at 25,880,” advised Taneja.
