Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged in early trade on Thursday (October 16, 2025), tracking a rally in global markets amid U.S. Fed rate cut hopes. Fresh foreign fund inflows also added to the markets' optimism during the initial trade. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 407.67 points to 83,013.10 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty surged 104 points to 25,427.55. From the Sensex firms, Axis Bank climbed 3%, a day after announcing its September quarter earnings. Adani Ports, Titan, Eternal, Kot ...

Core Insights - Indian equities experienced a significant rise, primarily driven by strong performances in the banking and pharmaceutical sectors, alongside positive foreign fund inflows [5][6]. Market Performance - The BSE Sensex increased by 328.72 points or 0.40% to close at 82,500.82, reaching an intraday high of 82,654.11 with a maximum gain of 482.01 points or 0.58% [3]. - The NSE Nifty rose by 103.55 points or 0.41% to settle at 25,285.35, achieving an intraday high of 25,330.75 with a peak increase of 148.95 points or 0.59% [3]. Sector Performance - Major gainers among Sensex firms included State Bank of India, Maruti Suzuki India, Axis Bank, NTPC, BEL, Adani Ports, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and HDFC Bank [4]. - Conversely, laggards included Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Titan, and Bajaj Finance [4]. Investor Sentiment - Investor sentiment improved following the Indian government's invitation for private sector professionals to lead the State Bank of India, which positively impacted banking stocks [5]. - The revival of the Biosecure Act in the US, aimed at reducing biotech ties with certain foreign firms, particularly from China, provided a boost to Indian Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) [5]. Foreign Investment - Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) purchased equities worth ₹1,308.16 crore on Thursday, indicating strong foreign interest in the Indian market [6]. Global Market Context - In the broader Asian market, indices such as Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Tokyo's Nikkei 225, and Shanghai's SSE Composite ended lower, while Seoul's Kospi closed positively [6]. - The global oil benchmark Brent crude saw a slight decline of 0.63% to $64.81 per barrel [7].