Indian stock markets closed Wednesday’s session with gains, driven by metal, real estate, and technology shares. Notably, the defence sector exhibited strength, attracting consistent investor interest over the past three sessions. Despite intraday fluctuations, positive investor sentiment prevailed, aiding benchmark indices to finish in positive territory.
At the session’s close, the Sensex rose by 182 points to settle at 81,330.56, while the Nifty climbed 88 points to end at 24,666. Key option levels in the Nifty indicated major call resistances at 25,000 and 25,500, with put supports at 24,000 and 24,500, according to market experts. The put-call ratio (PCR) of 0.72 suggested a mildly bearish bias.

Tata Steel led gainers on the 30-share index with a 3.88% increase, followed by Eternal (2.18%), Tech Mahindra (2.02%), and Maruti Suzuki India (1.66%). Conversely, Asian Paints was the biggest loser, declining by 1.78%. Tata Motors and Kotak Mahindra Bank also registered losses.
Beyond the headline indices, the Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices outperformed, reflecting robust investor interest in mid- and small-cap stocks. The positive market sentiment was further buoyed by India’s retail inflation data for April, showing the slowest pace in over six years, primarily driven by lower food prices.
Global cues, particularly softer US consumer inflation data, alleviated concerns about inflationary pressures and raised expectations of a dovish stance by the Federal Reserve. Additionally, the retreat in crude oil prices and a weaker US dollar supported the local currency during trading.
Market experts anticipate continued investor confidence in the near term, as domestic and global factors align favorably. The positive market sentiment, coupled with expectations of a potential rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India, is likely to sustain market momentum.
Looking ahead, the convergence of supportive factors indicates a promising outlook for the Indian stock market. The resilience of the defence sector and the broader market’s performance reflect a dynamic investment landscape, underpinned by evolving economic conditions and global trends.