The Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, surged over one-and-a-half percent to achieve lifetime highs on Friday, buoyed by robust GDP figures and fresh foreign investments.
Nifty Reaches New Heights:
The Nifty soared by 355.95 points or 1.62 percent to settle at a record closing level of 22,338.75. During the trading session, it peaked at 22,353.30, marking an intra-day record high, fueled by positive momentum from global markets and robust auto sales data.
Sectoral Performance:
Key sectors witnessed significant gains, with the metal sector leading the charge, surging by 3.84 percent, followed by capital goods, banking, auto, energy, oil & gas, commodities, and industrials.
GDP Growth Impetus:
India’s economy expanded by a better-than-anticipated 8.4 percent in the final quarter of 2023, the highest rate in one-and-a-half years. The growth, surpassing expectations, contributed to a favorable estimate of 7.6 percent for the current fiscal year.
Manufacturing Sector Strengthens:
The manufacturing sector exhibited resilience, with the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbing to a five-month high of 56.9 in February, indicating robust sectoral health supported by increased factory production and sales.
Market Outlook:
Market experts remain optimistic, attributing the bullish sentiment to stellar GDP performance and easing US inflation. With the general election drawing closer, investor confidence is bolstered by robust economic data, anticipating a pre-election rally.
Special Trading Session:
In preparation for major disruptions or failures, leading stock exchanges BSE and NSE will conduct a special live trading session on Saturday. The session will facilitate an intra-day switch over from the primary site to the disaster recovery site, ensuring operational readiness.
Foreign Fund Inflows:
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned net buyers on Thursday, injecting Rs 3,568.11 crore into the equity market. This influx of foreign funds underscores growing investor confidence in the Indian market.
Outlook:
With positive cues from both domestic and global markets, Indian equities continue to attract investor interest, supported by strong economic fundamentals and favorable market conditions.
