17 April,2026 11:44 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 177.52 points to 78,166.20 in early trade. Representational image. File pic
With the West Asia conflict now at a critical juncture, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty on Friday were trading in positive territory during early trade. The indices were supported by optimism around easing geopolitical tensions and fresh foreign fund inflows.
Experts, while expressing their views on the market situation amid the conflict, said the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has added to the markets' optimism, with expectations that this could pave the way for renewed US-Iran negotiations, news agency PTI reported.
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 177.52 points to 78,166.20 in early trade, while the 50-share NSE Nifty advanced 37.4 points to reach 24,234.15.
The Sensex had declined 122.56 points, or 0.16 per cent, to settle at 77,988.68 on Thursday, indicating that stock market movements could remain highly volatile over the next few days.
Meanwhile, foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 382.36 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data.
While the market indices on Friday rose marginally, ITC, Adani Ports, Maruti, Trent, Power Grid, and Hindustan Unilever were among the major winners. On the other hand, HCL Tech, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance, and ICICI Bank were among the laggards.
In Asian markets, South Korea's benchmark Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai's SSE Composite index, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were trading lower. The US markets on Thursday, however, ended marginally higher.
VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited, said, "The resilience of the mother market, the US, and positive news relating to a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon bode well for the market."
Another market analyst, Hariprasad K, while speaking on the current situation, stated, "While US indices continue to scale record highs, supported by optimism around easing geopolitical tensions, Asian markets have opened lower, reflecting a more cautious interpretation of the same developments."
Wall Street extended its rally, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closing at fresh highs on the back of improving sentiment around a potential resolution in the Middle East, he added.
An analyst further stated, "Reports of a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon have added to optimism, with expectations that this could pave the way for renewed US-Iran negotiations. However, Asian markets appear less convinced, trading lower as investors remain wary of how durable these developments are, especially given the fragile nature of geopolitical agreements in the region."
(With inputs from PTI)
