Sensex jumps 356 points, Nifty tops 24,100 in 2026

Market closes higher after a volatile session

Indian equities ended Monday’s session in positive territory, with both the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty recovering from the previous session’s decline. Trading sentiment was supported by buying in blue-chip stocks and state poll results that were moving towards an outcome in line with market expectations. The rebound came despite lingering worries linked to Middle East tensions, which remained in focus through the day. Investors also took cues from corporate earnings commentary around the March quarter. The session featured strong intraday swings, with benchmark indices rising sharply at one point before settling at more modest gains at the close.

Sensex and Nifty: closing levels and intraday peak

The 30-share BSE Sensex rose 355.90 points, or 0.46%, to close at 77,269.40. During the day, the index surged as much as 997.25 points, or 1.29%, to touch 77,910.75. The NSE Nifty gained 121.75 points, or 0.51%, ending the day at 24,119.30 and closing above the 24,100 mark. The stronger intraday move followed early buying in heavyweight names, while the closing levels reflected some profit booking as the session progressed.

What supported sentiment: political cues and Q4 results

Market commentary pointed to political cues as one of the key drivers of risk appetite. Analysts said a favourable election outcome in West Bengal and results trending broadly in line with market expectations helped stabilise sentiment. Another support factor cited was better-than-expected Q4 earnings, which allowed investors to look past near-term geopolitical concerns. At the same time, intermittent profit booking continued, reflecting uncertainty tied to global developments, including discussion around a US ‘Project Freedom’ initiative aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Sensex movers: top gainers and laggards

Buying was visible across select large-cap names on the Sensex. Among the biggest gainers were Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Hindustan Unilever, Reliance Industries, Larsen & Toubro, Eternal Ltd, and Maruti Suzuki India. On the losing side, Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tata Consultancy Services, and ITC were among the laggards. Stock-specific moves also contributed to the day’s momentum, with commentary noting gains in Maruti Suzuki India and Hindustan Unilever on the back of strong operational updates.

Broader market ends in green

The broader market also advanced, indicating that participation extended beyond the benchmark indices. The BSE SmallCap Select index rose 0.79%, while the MidCap Select index gained 0.75%. Market breadth on the BSE leaned positive, with 2,607 stocks advancing, 1,735 declining, and 216 remaining unchanged. The broader performance suggested that investors were selectively adding exposure after the previous session’s weakness.

Sector check: realty up, IT and PSU banks lag

Sector-wise, several indices ended with meaningful gains. Realty, services, capital goods, industrials, healthcare, and utilities rose by more than 1% on the BSE. Meanwhile, IT and PSU Bank indices were among the major losers.

On the Nifty side, sectoral performance was mixed as well. Nifty Realty advanced 2.5%, with Anant Raj and Godrej Properties cited among the top gainers. Nifty Metal gained 1%, led by Vedanta and Jindal Steel. Nifty Pharma rose 0.9%, with Laurus Labs and Gland Pharma noted as top performers. Nifty PSU Bank slipped 0.2%, dragged by Indian Bank and Central Bank, while Nifty IT declined 0.9%, with Coforge and TCS cited among the drags.

Key numbers at a glance

Institutional activity and the holiday break

Exchange data showed that Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold equities worth ₹8,047.86 crore on Thursday, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought shares worth ₹3,487.10 crore. The market also had a trading break, with stock exchanges closed on Friday for Maharashtra Day. The holiday meant Monday’s session reflected both fresh positioning and reactions to developments since Thursday’s close.

Other market developments in focus

Apart from the broader rebound, traders also tracked stock-specific news. In one such move, MCX shares fell up to 3.5% after a report that SEBI said RBI and IRDAI were not in favour of allowing commodity derivative investments. The development underscored that regulatory signals can continue to shape sentiment in specific pockets of the market even on broadly positive days.

Market impact and what investors tracked

The day’s move highlighted a pattern seen in recent sessions: sharp intraday swings, followed by a more measured close as profit booking emerges. Political clarity and Q4 earnings updates provided near-term support, while geopolitical risks remained a source of caution. Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said markets are likely to maintain a gradual upward trajectory, supported by softer crude oil prices, strong domestic macroeconomic indicators such as record GST collections and healthy auto sales, and political clarity following state election outcomes.

Conclusion

Monday’s close put benchmark indices back in the green, with the Sensex up 355.90 points and the Nifty finishing above 24,100. Investors will continue to track corporate updates, state poll signals as they firm up, and geopolitical headlines that can influence risk sentiment.