Benchmark indices sustained morning gains at midday on Friday, with the trading 376.43 points higher at 85,194.56 and the holding above the 26,000 mark at 26,013.25, up 114.70 points or 0.44 per cent. Metal stocks continued to drive the rally that began with a gap-up opening, while select FMCG and auto counters faced selling pressure.
led the Nifty50 gainers, surging 2.98 per cent to ₹171.34, followed by which advanced 2.78 per cent to ₹847.25. Larsen & Toubro climbed 1.81 per cent to ₹4,076.50, while Eternal gained 1.79 per cent to ₹296.15. JSW Steel rounded off the top five gainers with a 1.77 per cent rise to ₹1,125.
On the losing side, declined 1.76 per cent to ₹2,265, emerging as the top laggard. Bajaj Auto fell 0.78 per cent to ₹8,982.50, while Max Healthcare shed 0.74 per cent to ₹1,079.80. ITC and Power Grid declined 0.57 per cent and 0.53 per cent to ₹400.60 and ₹263.40 respectively.
Broader markets outperformed the benchmarks, with the Nifty Midcap 100 index rising 0.77 per cent to 60,038.85 and the Nifty Smallcap 100 gaining 0.58 per cent to 17,329.25. Market breadth remained positive, with 2,416 stocks advancing against 1,571 declines on the BSE. The exchange recorded 80 stocks hitting 52-week highs and 67 touching 52-week lows, while 165 stocks were locked in upper circuit and 139 in lower circuit.
Sectoral indices showed mixed performance, with the Nifty Bank index adding 0.28 per cent to 59,374.70, the Nifty Financial Services gaining 0.35 per cent to 27,658.25, and the Nifty Next 50 advancing 0.38 per cent to 68,196.15.
The rupee continued to slide to fresh record lows, trading around the 90.25 level against the dollar, raising concerns about imported inflation despite potential benefits for export-oriented sectors. Analysts noted the equity market appeared to be temporarily decoupling from currency pressure, focusing instead on technical resilience after defending key support levels.
In commodities, MCX Gold traded near lifetime highs at ₹1,32,776, while MCX Silver remained firm above ₹1,98,000, with both metals receiving support from rupee depreciation.