A buoyant start to Monday’s session
Indian equity markets opened the week on an optimistic note, with both headline indices climbing at the bell. The Nifty 50 launched at 22,532.40 and the BSE Sensex at 72,340.95, delivering approximate advances of 0.5 % and 0.6 % respectively.
Financials power the upward move
Banking stocks supplied the bulk of the upside. The Nifty PSU Bank index surged over 2 %, putting state‑run lenders at the forefront of the day’s gains. HDFC Bank, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda all posted solid upticks, buoyed by company‑specific developments and quarterly results.
Oil price retreat eases cost pressures
A dip in global crude added further support, with Brent hovering around $101 a barrel and WTI near $90. Lower oil prices trim India’s import bill, temper inflationary pressures and improve cost structures for a broad set of corporates.
Reduced U.S. tightening worries
Softening U.S. employment data cooled expectations of a more aggressive Federal Reserve tightening cycle. The sentiment shift lifted markets worldwide, helping Indian benchmarks rebound after eight consecutive weeks of decline.
Stand‑out stocks and laggards
Among individual equities, Bajaj Finance shone, reporting an 11 % year‑on‑year jump in new loan bookings for the September quarter. Other notable gainers were Shriram Finance, ITC, NTPC and Coal India. In contrast, Apollo Hospitals, Infosys, Max Healthcare, Cipla and HCL Technologies faced selling pressure.
RBI’s policy meeting in the spotlight
Investors are also eyeing the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee, which met on Monday. The central bank is set to announce its next decision on October 7, and any commentary on rates could steer market direction for the rest of the week.
Overall, the mix of softer crude, easing U.S. rate‑cut concerns and strong buying in financials delivered a much‑needed lift to Indian markets after a recent slump.
