The benchmark equity indices opened marginally higher on Thursday, with the Nifty 50 adding 26.55 points or 0.12% to 24,276.75 and the S&P BSE Sensex rising 63.17 points or 0.07% to 77,717.77 as of 09:30 IST, according to latest market data. Gains in IT, auto and oil & gas stocks supported the market, while realty, chemicals and private banking shares witnessed selling pressure. In the broader market, the BSE 150 MidCap Index fell 0.20% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index dropped 0.35%, with market breadth showing 1,351 shares rising and 1,602 shares falling on the BSE. The session extended the winning streak to a second consecutive session, with the Sensex advancing 273.55 points or 0.35% to 77,928.15 and the Nifty 50 adding 66.95 points or 0.28% to 24,317.15.
The Nifty Realty Index closed 2.06% lower at 899.5 on July 30, 2026, according to reports from Business Standard. Despite the daily decline, the index has demonstrated resilience with 8.00% gains over the last one month. The realty sector's performance contrasted with broader market trends, as the Nifty 50 recorded a 0.28% gain to close at 24,317.15 and the SENSEX increased 0.35% to close at 77,928.15. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth ₹2,981.87 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of ₹998.02 crore in the Indian equity market on July 29, 2026, as per provisional data. Over the two trading sessions, the Sensex has gained 1.51% while the Nifty has advanced 1.38%, with the Nifty closing above the key support level of 24,200, indicating that the near-term positive bias remains intact.
Among the realty sector constituents, Prestige Estates Projects Ltd led the decline with a 4.67% drop, followed by DLF Ltd which shed 2.30% and Lodha Developers Ltd which fell 2.22%, as reported by Business Standard. These significant declines contributed to the overall index performance, highlighting sector-specific challenges despite the index's positive monthly performance. The selling pressure in realty shares was part of the broader market weakness that saw gains in IT, auto and oil & gas stocks offset by declines in chemicals and private banking sectors. In the broader market, the BSE 150 MidCap Index slipped 0.29% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index fell 0.83%, with market breadth showing 1,690 shares rising and 2,527 shares falling on the BSE.
The Nifty Realty Index has decreased 2.00% over the last one year, which compares favorably to the 2.16% fall in the benchmark Nifty 50 index during the same period, according to Business Standard reports. This performance differential suggests that while the realty sector faced headwinds over the past year, it has shown relative resilience compared to the broader market decline. The sector's performance indicates mixed investor sentiment toward real estate investment opportunities, with current market conditions showing continued pressure despite the positive monthly performance. The Nifty 50 has gained 1.38% over the two trading sessions, supported by gains in auto, energy and consumer durables stocks, while weakness in private banks and financial shares capped the upside.
