Sensex jumps over 200 pts, Nifty tops 25,950 as earnings optimism lifts mood; bank index hits new high

Market Performance - The S&P BSE Sensex rose over 200 points to trade above 84,800, while the NSE Nifty 50 advanced over 50 points to rise above 25,950 [1][13] - The Nifty Bank index set a fresh record, jumping past 58,000 and hitting an intraday high of 58,905.80 [1][13] - Mid-cap and small-cap stocks extended their advance, with broader gauges rising 0.4% and 0.5% [1][13] Corporate Earnings - Q2 results indicate an uptrend in earnings growth, with net profits having grown by 10.8%, marking the best performance in the last six quarters [5][13] - Discretionary consumption, particularly in automobiles, is expected to lead earnings growth in Q3 [6][13] Foreign Institutional Investment - Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold equities worth over Rs 4,968 crore on November 14, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were net buyers of Rs 8,461.5 crore [7][13] Economic Indicators - The Nifty 50 now trades 1.2% below its all-time high of 26,277.37 reached in September 2024 [4][13] - Expectations for a U.S. rate cut in December have slipped to 40% from over 60% last week, impacting market sentiment [8][13] Global Market Context - Asian equities opened cautiously as investors awaited corporate earnings and U.S. data, focusing on interest-rate outlook and AI rally durability [8][13] - Oil prices slipped, with Brent crude falling 58 cents to $63.81 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate down 59 cents to $59.50 [11][13]