How Did the Indian Stock Market Rally for the 3rd Day with Sensex Gaining 213 Points?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sensex rose by 213 points to close at 81,857.84.
- Strong buying in IT and FMCG sectors led the gains.
- Mixed performance in sectoral indices, with Nifty FMCG and Nifty IT showing significant gains.
- Ongoing challenges include high valuations and external risks.
- The rupee remains stable, trading around 87.02.
Mumbai, Aug 20 (NationPress) The Indian equity markets closed positively on Wednesday, driven by robust buying in the IT and FMCG sectors. The market maintained its upward trend, buoyed by strong domestic inflows. The Sensex concluded the day at 81,857.84, marking an increase of 213.45 points or 0.26 percent.
The 30-share index started with a slight uptick at 81,671.47, compared to the previous session's close of 81,644.39.
Throughout the day, the index remained within a range, witnessing buying activity in the IT and FMCG sectors, while facing selling pressure in the banking and financial services stocks. The Nifty wrapped up at 25,050.55, up 69.90 or 0.28 percent.
Market sentiment was lifted after China, India's largest trading partner, opted to maintain its key interest rate, a decision that hints at policy stability and could have positive implications for India's trade outlook, according to Ashika Institutional Equities.
Top performers in the Sensex included Infosys, TCS, Hindustan Unilever, NTPC, Tech Mahindra, Tata Steel, HCL Tech, Eternal, Bharti Airtel, Mahindra and Mahindra, and Titan.
Conversely, BEL, Bajaj Finance, Tata Motors, Trent, Bajaj FinServ, and ITC faced declines.
The Indian market's positive trend continues, bolstered by strong domestic inflows and favorable macroeconomic conditions. However, high valuations and external risks, particularly U.S. tariffs and sanctions on Russian crude purchases, present ongoing challenges, stated Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited.
Sector-wise, market indices reacted variably. The Nifty FMCG surged 777 points or 1.39 percent, while Nifty IT gained 933 points or 2.69 percent. The Nifty Auto experienced a slight increase. In contrast, Bank Nifty and Nifty Fin Services ended lower.
The broader indices maintained their upward trajectory for a third straight day this week. The Nifty Next 50 rose 256 points or 0.38 percent, Nifty 100 climbed 76 points or 0.30 percent, Nifty Midcap 100 soared 265.85 points or 0.46 percent, and Nifty Small Cap 100 closed with a gain of 54 points or 0.46 percent.
The rupee traded flat around 87.02 as the dollar index remained stable at 98.25, with market participants awaiting Powell's speech scheduled for Friday.
Recent tariff developments have kept market volatility high, but stability was observed following PM Modi's announcement regarding GST reductions before Diwali, remarked Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities.
From a technical perspective, the rupee faces significant resistance around the 86.80 level, while immediate support lies in the 87.60–87.80 range, indicating a potential sideways movement until new triggers emerge, Trivedi concluded.