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Indian benchmark indices began Thursday’s trading session on a subdued note, mirroring the downtrend in global markets
Sensex Today
Sensex Today: Indian equity benchmarks closed higher on Thursday, with the Sensex gaining 317.93 points or 0.41% to settle at 77,606.43. The index moved within a range of 77,747.46 to 77,082.51 during the session.
Similarly, the NSE Nifty50 ended with a gain of 105.10 points or 0.45% at 23,591.95, hitting an intra-day high of 23,646.45 and a low of 23,412.20.
Among the top gainers on the Sensex were Bajaj Finserv, NTPC, IndusInd Bank, Larsen & Toubro, and Bajaj Finance, rising up to 2.85%. On the other hand, Tata Motors, Sun Pharma, Hindustan Unilever, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Bharti Airtel were the top laggards, falling up to 5.38%.
Broader markets saw small-cap stocks leading the gains, with the Nifty Smallcap100 index rising 1.15%, while the Nifty Midcap100 index gained 0.37%.
Among sectoral indices, all but Nifty Auto and Pharma ended in the green. Auto stocks declined following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles not manufactured in the U.S. The Nifty Auto index closed 1.04% lower.
Meanwhile, PSU banks outperformed, with the Nifty PSU Bank index gaining 2.50%, led by Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank.
Global Cues
Wall Street closed sharply lower on Wednesday, dragged down by declines in major stocks such as Nvidia and Tesla. Investors remained cautious ahead of the formal unveiling of US tariffs on automotive imports, a move expected to escalate trade tensions. US President Donald Trump had earlier signaled plans to impose a 25% tariff on all foreign-made cars starting April 2, with collections beginning the following day. Analysts warn that the tariffs could lead to higher prices and supply chain disruptions.
Asian and European Markets Follow Suit
The ripple effect of the U.S. tariff announcement was evident in early Asian trading. Japan’s Topix dropped 0.7%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.6%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng futures edged down 0.1%, and Euro Stoxx 50 futures declined 1.2%, signaling further weakness ahead for European markets. S&P 500 futures also dipped 0.2% in early Tokyo trading, reflecting lingering investor caution.
The latest developments add to the ongoing global trade uncertainty, with markets closely monitoring potential retaliatory measures from affected economies.
