Indian stock markets rebounded after eight days of losses, with Sensex surging 715 points and Nifty climbing 225. Gains were led by banks, autos, and pharma as RBI kept repo rate unchanged at 5.5 perc and raised FY26 GDP growth forecast to 6.8 perc. Easing crude oil prices also boosted investor sentiment
Representational Image. File Pic
Market benchmarks rebounded sharply on Wednesday after an eight-session losing streak, with Sensex jumping 715 points, propelled by bargain hunting in bank and financial stocks after the RBI left interest rates unchanged and revised upward its growth estimates to 6.8 per cent for the current fiscal.
Buoyancy across global equities and easing crude oil prices boosted the risk appetite of local investors, triggering value buying across the sectors, traders said.
The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 715.69 points or 0.89 per cent to settle at 80,983.31. During the day, it surged 800.81 points or 0.99 per cent to 81,068.43.
As many as 2,797 stocks advanced while 1,360 declined and 134 remained unchanged on the BSE.
The 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 225.20 points or 0.92 per cent to 24,836.30.
From the Sensex firms, Tata Motors jumped the most by 5.54 per cent, followed by Kotak Mahindra Bank, Trent, Sun Pharma, Axis Bank, and ICICI Bank.
However, Bajaj Finance, State Bank of India, UltraTech Cement and Tata Steel were among the laggards.
"The equity market posted a broad-based rally today, with the RBI's policy decision broadly in line with expectations but accompanied by a more constructive tone than in June, which buoyed investor sentiment. Its dovish stance, alongside an upward revision of India's GDP growth forecast from 6.5 per cent to 6.8 per cent, reinforced confidence," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.
The Reserve Bank of India expectedly left its key interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, as it waited for greater clarity on the impact of US tariffs as well as transmission of earlier rate cuts and recent tax reductions.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, however, signalled scope for easing in the coming months to support the economy from any possible hit from US tariffs.
The six-member monetary policy committee voted unanimously to keep the repurchase rate unchanged at 5.5 per cent and decided to continue with a "neutral" policy stance, giving it flexibility to move in either direction if needed in future.
"Markets rallied across the board on Thursday after the Reserve Bank of India lifted its FY26 GDP growth forecast to 6.8 per cent and trimmed inflation expectations to 2.6 per cent -- the lower bound of its target range. The upbeat outlook on growth and price stability came as a timely reassurance for investors, who had been jittery over the potential drag from steep US tariff hikes.
"RBI's commentary helped restore confidence, signalling resilience in India's macro fundamentals despite global headwinds," Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, an online trading and wealth tech firm, said.
The central bank raised its growth forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026 to 6.8 per cent from 6.5 per cent, but the governor said the forward-looking projections for Q3 (October-December) and beyond are expected to be slightly lower than projected earlier, primarily due to trade-related headwinds, despite being partially offset by the impetus provided by the rationalisation of GST rates.
The BSE smallcap gauge jumped 1.16 per cent, and the midcap index climbed 0.91 per cent.
All sectoral indices ended higher. Bankex climbed 1.44 per cent, telecommunication (1.26 per cent), financial services (1.22 per cent), healthcare (1.13 per cent), realty (1.11 per cent), utilities (1.03 per cent) and consumer discretionary (0.94 per cent).
"Additional support (for equities) came from five targeted measures to ease lending, including relaxed capital market exposure norms and enhanced infrastructure financing. Gains were led by banking and consumer stocks, while autos advanced on the back of healthy sales. Overall, the rebound reflects improving sentiment and hints at early signs of a potential shift in market direction," Nair said.
Equity markets will remain closed on Thursday for Dussehra and Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti.
In Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi settled in positive territory, while Japan's Nikkei 225 index ended lower. Markets in China were closed for the National Day holiday.
Equities in Europe were trading higher in mid-session deals.
US markets ended higher on Tuesday
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 2,327.09 crore on Tuesday, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought equities worth Rs 5,761.63 crore, according to exchange data.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude declined 0.95 per cent to USD 65.40 a barrel.
In the last eight trading days, the BSE benchmark has tanked 2,746.34 points or 3.30 per cent, and the Nifty dropped 812.5 points or 3.19 per cent.
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