Optimism over India-EU trade talks powered a market rebound, with benchmarks closing higher after a volatile session. Sensex gained 319.78 points (0.39%) at 81,857.48; Nifty added 126.75 points (0.51%) to 25,175.40.
Metals and banks drove the rally: Nifty Metal +3.07%, PSU Bank +1.76%, Commodities +1.70%, Defence +1.53%, PSE +1.21%, Financial Services +0.88%.
Losers: Media -1.44%, Auto -0.93%, FMCG -0.60%, Consumer Durables -0.59%.
Midcaps rose 0.59% to 57,483.65 (338 pts); Smallcaps up 0.41% to 16,419.35 (66.60 pts).
Sensex winners featured Adani Ports, Axis Bank, Tata Steel, Tech Mahindra, NTPC, SBI, UltraTech Cement, BEL, ICICI Bank, Indigo, L&T, HDFC Bank, Trent, Infosys, HCL Tech. Laggards: M&M, Kotak Mahindra, Asian Paints, Eternal, Maruti Suzuki, ITC, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, Titan, HUL, Bharti Airtel.
The trade deal countered volatility, though auto/beverage stocks dipped on competition fears, per analysts.
Open: Sensex -100.91 pts at 81,436.79; Nifty +14.70 pts at 25,063.35, then pressured before recovery. Eyes on Fed rates, budget next.