In an optimistic turn for the domestic equity markets, key benchmarks experienced substantial gains in the afternoon trading session. This rally was largely fueled by improved investor sentiment, which has emerged amid hopes for a de-escalation in the ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The recent rebound follows a notable sell-off that occurred in prior sessions, primarily driven by escalating conflicts in the Middle East.
As of 12:26 IST, the Nifty 50 index traded above the pivotal 24,600 level, reflecting a jump of 151.70 points or 0.62%, reaching 24,639.50. Concurrently, the S&P BSE Sensex surged by 435.56 points or 0.54%, settling at 79,551.60. Additionally, the broader market indices also displayed positive momentum, with the BSE 150 MidCap Index rising by 0.58% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index gaining 0.45%. This broad-based rally was supported by a favorable market breadth, where 2,374 shares advanced compared to 1,619 that declined, while 180 shares remained unchanged.
Particularly noteworthy was the performance of the Nifty Realty index, which rebounded by 1.14% to reach 752.65, following a decline of 6.82% over the previous three trading sessions. Major real estate stocks such as DLF (up 2.35%), Phoenix Mills (up 1.46%), and Oberoi Realty (up 1.21%) contributed significantly to this index's recovery. However, some stocks, including SignatureGlobal India (down 1.27%) and Godrej Properties (down 0.24%), faced downward pressure amid this overall positive sentiment.
In derivatives trading, the NSE's India VIX, which measures market volatility expectations, decreased by 10.65% to 18.89. The Nifty options for the 30 March 2026 expiry indicated a maximum call open interest at the 26,000 strike price, while put open interest peaked at 24,000. This data reflects traders' positioning and expectations for future market movements. In summary, the combination of improved investor sentiment and significant gains in the realty sector highlights the resilience of the domestic equity markets amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges.