18 March,2026 08:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. File pic
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended nearly 1 per cent higher on Wednesday, extending their winning run to the third day in a row. However, the concerning West Asia conflict impacted crude oil prices in a negative way.
As reported by news agency PTI, a rally in IT stocks also led to the optimistic trend in the domestic markets.
The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 633.29 points or 0.83 per cent to settle at 76,704.13. During the day, it soared 929.38 points or 1.22 per cent to 77,000.22. Whereas the 50-share NSE Nifty surged 196.65 points, or 0.83 per cent, to end at 23,777.80.
From the 30-Sensex firms, Eternal, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Mahindra & Mahindra, HCL Tech, Adani Ports, Tata Consultancy Services and Axis Bank were among the major gainers. On the contrary, NTPC, Hindustan Unilever, Sun Pharma and HDFC Bank were among the laggards.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, dipped 0.10 per cent to USD 103.30 per barrel. However, in Asian markets, South Korea's benchmark KOSPI jumped 5 per cent, and Japan's Nikkei 225 index climbed 2.87 per cent. Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index also ended higher, whereas the markets in Europe were trading in positive territory.
Siddharth Khemka, Head of Research, Wealth Management at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said, "From a strong three-day rebound, due to supportive global cues, markets are expected to remain cautious as investor sentiment may carry on to be sensitive to developments in West Asia, movements in crude oil prices and continued FIIs activity. While a near-term relief rally may persist, its sustainability will depend on de-escalation in geopolitical tensions and moderation in energy prices."
Expressing his views on the 3-day recovery, Khemka further added, "Markets witnessed a sharp recovery for the third consecutive session, with the Nifty 50 gaining 0.8 per cent and crossing the 23,750 mark to close at 23,777, up 196 points, and broader markets strengthened, with the Midcap100 and Smallcap100 indices gaining 2 per cent and 1.6 per cent, respectively. The rally was aided by positive global cues, softer crude oil prices and selective buying at lower levels, while a decline in the India VIX indicated improving investor sentiment and lower near-term volatility."
