cThe Indian stock market reversed its recent losses in Monday's trade, 5 October, as the headline indices closed with gains of over 0.50%, supported by strong gains in the tech sector, while a rebound in financials and consumer goods also aided sentiment.
The markets opened the session on a higher note after their longest weekly losing streak in 25 years, and at one point, the Nifty 50 gained nearly 1% at its day's high before pairing gains as higher levels prompted investors to book profits. The global backdrop also turned in favor of bulls as a drop in crude oil prices, coupled with softer-than-expected US jobs data, reduced expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike later this month.
Market attention has now shifted to the upcoming RBI MPC policy outcome, with the Street expecting a rate hike. Indian stock market todayThe Nifty concluded the session at 22,535, 0.51% higher than Friday's close, while the Sensex advanced 0.56% to 72,312.
The positive sentiment also spilled over into the broader market, as both the Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices finished the session with gains of 0.54% and 0.51%, respectively. Sectoral performance remained mixed, as FMCG, consumer durables, media and PSU banks ended higher, while pharma and chemicals closed lower.
Brent crude for December delivery slipped 0.5% to about $101.75 a barrel after Saudi Arabia cut prices of its benchmark grade to Asia as flows expand. Oil's decline is further bolstering sentiment after Friday's US jobs report showed employers added fewer workers than forecast, prompting money markets to price in less than a 20% chance of an October Fed hike.
The reprieve for bonds came against a months-long rout fueled by persistent inflation concerns, government spending, and surging corporate borrowing to finance the artificial intelligence buildout. On Friday, G7 countries agreed to release 100 million barrels of crude and diesel from emergency reserves, while pledging not to impose restrictions on energy exports.(more to come)