The Indian stock market ended sharply higher on Monday, with benchmark indices posting strong gains amid significant geopolitical developments. The Sensex rose 736.38 points, or 0.97%, to close at 76,264.33, while the Nifty 50 advanced 231 points, or 0.98%, to settle at 23,853.90. However, the market is likely to open on a cautious note as trends in the Gift Nifty index signalled a flat opening on Tuesday, with Gift Nifty trading near the 23,932 mark, up over 15 points from the previous close. According to Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, Indian markets are expected to trade with a positive bias as investors respond to a significant easing of geopolitical risks following a breakthrough in U.S.–Iran negotiations. The United States and Iran have reportedly signed a preliminary agreement, with US President Donald Trump and Iran's lead negotiator endorsing a framework that could pave the way for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
HCL Tech, Bajaj Finance, and TCS emerged as the top gainers in today's trading session, while Tata Steel, Ultra Tech Cement, and Bharat Electronics were among the top losers. The BSE 150 Midcap index is trading 0.3% higher and the BSE 250 SmallCap index is trading 0.5% higher, indicating positive momentum across mid and small-cap segments. Sectoral performance remained mixed with stocks in oil & gas sector and IT sector witnessing buying pressure, while stocks in metal sector and pharma sector witnessed selling pressure. The rupee is trading at ₹94.6 against the US dollar, reflecting the broader market dynamics and currency movements.
Several key stocks are expected to remain in focus today following significant corporate announcements. According to reports from ET Now, investors will track developments ranging from fundraising plans, strategic partnerships and management appointments to dividend approvals, stake acquisitions and production expansion. The stocks include NTPC, ICICI Bank, Hyundai Motor India, Asian Paints, HCLTech, TCS, IndiaMART InterMESH and Jindal Steel, all of which have announced major corporate developments that could influence market performance.
NTPC leads the focus with its board set to consider a ₹18,000 crore fundraising proposal. Meanwhile, Asian Paints has seen significant mutual fund activity, with ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund acquiring 0.88% stake worth ₹1,876 crore, while SBI Mutual Fund recently purchased shares worth ₹7,703.5 crore. The seller Siddhant Commercials continues reducing its holding in the paint company. Additionally, Jindal Steel has approved changing its company name from Jindal Steel & Power to Jindal Steel, as reported by ET Now.
Sarvam AI, a Bengaluru-based artificial intelligence startup, has become a unicorn after raising $234 million (around ₹22.10 billion) in a Series B funding round. The funding was led by HCLTech and Bessemer Venture Partners, with support from existing investors Khosla Ventures and Peak XV Partners. As part of the deal, HCLTech will acquire a 10.46% stake in Sarvam AI for ₹14.27 billion, making it the company's largest strategic investor. The latest funding has pushed Sarvam AI's valuation above $1 billion, making it one of only two Indian AI startups to achieve unicorn status, alongside Krutrim. The investment comes as India focuses on building its own AI capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign AI technologies.
IndiaMART has received shareholder approval for a ₹50 per share dividend, providing positive cash flow implications for investors. The company's focus on dividend approvals reflects its commitment to returning value to shareholders. These developments across multiple sectors are expected to keep these stocks in focus for investors seeking cues on sectoral trends and individual stock performance in today's trading session.
