The BSE Sensex jumped 152.05 points or 0.19% to 78,581 and the Nifty 50 index rose 9.75 points or 0.04% to 24,624.65, with the Nifty ending above the crucial 24,600 level. According to Business Standard, the broader market displayed stronger momentum than the headline Nifty suggested, with the BSE 150 MidCap Index rising 0.34% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index adding 0.70%. Market breadth remained firmly positive with 2,330 shares rising and 1,911 shares falling on the BSE, while 216 shares remained unchanged, indicating continued investor confidence. Shriram Finance (up 3.23%), Larsen & Toubro (up 1.68%) and State Bank of India (up 1.18%) were the key Nifty boosters during the session.
The Reserve Bank of India kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25% at its monetary policy meeting held from August 3-5, 2026, marking the fourth consecutive meeting where rates have remained unchanged, as reported by Business Standard. The six-member MPC unanimously voted to keep the repo rate unchanged and retained its neutral policy stance. The committee also maintained the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate at 5.00% and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and Bank Rate at 5.50%. The RBI revised its FY27 GDP growth forecast upward to 6.7% from 6.6% projected in the previous policy review, with growth projected at 7.0% in Q1, 6.4% in Q2, 6.5% in Q3 and 6.8% in Q4, while Q1 FY28 growth is estimated at 7.3%. On inflation, the central bank projected CPI inflation at 5.0% for FY27, lower than its earlier estimate of 5.1%, with inflation projected at 4.7% in Q2, 5.9% in Q3 and 5.5% in Q4.
140 stocks hit their 52-week highs during the session, with Bosch leading the gains at 5.04% to reach ₹43,650, followed by Elantas Beck India surging 20% to ₹11,847. Other major stocks achieving 52-week highs included TVS Motor Company at 1.67% to ₹4,449.70, Sansera Engineering climbing 5.09% to ₹3,740, and MPS Limited gaining 3.13% to ₹2,835.50. Among other notable performers, PNB Housing Finance rose 4.49% after reporting a 4.3% year-on-year increase in net standalone profit to ₹557 crore for Q1 FY27, with total income growing to ₹2,265 crore from ₹2,082 crore in the corresponding quarter. APL Apollo Tubes climbed around 4% to ₹1,920 after quarterly revenue beat estimates by 8.4%, while Bharti Airtel gained around 1-2% following a 37% year-on-year rise in Q1 net profit to ₹8,167 crore.
Realty and auto stocks led the gains following the RBI's decision to maintain the repo rate unchanged, with the Nifty Realty index gaining 2.7% during the day, as reported by Moneycontrol. Eight of its 10 constituents were trading in the green, with the sector recovering from the previous session's decline where it had settled up to 2.5% lower. Among the index constituents, Godrej Properties emerged as the top gainer, climbing 4.3%, while DLF and Oberoi Realty followed, rising 2.04% and 1.95% respectively. Prestige Estates Projects, Sobha and Lodha Developers were among other gainers, advancing between 0.6% and 2%. FMCG, pharma and banking shares underperformed during the session, indicating selective investor interest in specific sectors.
Technically, the Nifty faces immediate resistance around the 24,775 level, while the 24,530 zone is expected to provide near-term support, according to Business Standard. The positive sentiment was supported by firm global markets, sustained foreign institutional investor (FII) buying and softer crude oil prices. Firm global markets, sustained foreign institutional investor (FII) buying and softer crude oil prices further lifted sentiment, with global markets tracking record gains on Wall Street where the Dow Jones rose 907.47 points to 54,085.88 and the S&P 500 gained 1.79% to 7,736.52. Investors also reduced expectations of a US Federal Reserve rate hike in September, with markets pricing in a 57% probability, down from 67% previously. The Rupee edged higher against the dollar, hovering at 95.1500 compared with its close of 95.2800 in the previous session.
