Indian benchmark indices ended Thursday’s session with marginal gains, extending their strong November rally as sustained foreign fund inflows and easing crude oil prices supported investor sentiment.
The Nifty 50 gained 44.30 points, or 0.18%, to close at 25,299.35, while the BSE Sensex rose 31.61 points, or 0.04%, to finish at 81,911.01. Both indices had advanced sharply in the previous session and remained close to their recent highs.
The market remained relatively subdued on Thursday after the strong gains seen earlier in the week. Investors continued to track foreign portfolio investment, global market cues and movements in crude oil prices.
Foreign investors bought Indian equities worth around ₹12,563 crore on Wednesday, taking their total purchases for November to about $6.43 billion, according to provisional data. The strong overseas buying has helped drive the benchmark indices higher, with both Sensex and Nifty gaining around 10% so far this month.
Lower crude prices also provided support to Indian equities. Brent crude fell around 1% to nearly $92 a barrel amid expectations of progress in peace efforts related to the Middle East and Russia-Ukraine conflicts.
Sectoral performance remained mixed. Financial stocks were among the stronger performers, while auto stocks declined after an eight-session winning streak. The broader market outperformed the benchmarks, with small- and mid-cap indices registering gains.
Bajaj Finance was among the notable gainers after announcing a share sale worth more than $1 billion to institutional investors. Meanwhile, several stocks, including LIC and Meesho, gained after being added to the MSCI India index.
Market participants are now expected to focus on domestic inflation data and global developments for further direction. Analysts also remain watchful of elevated valuations following the sharp November rally.
