Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended marginally higher on Thursday (October 23, 2025), helped by robust buying in IT and tech stocks amid growing optimism on the U.S.-India trade deal front.
After hitting a 52-week high, indices reversed most of their intra-day gains on fag-end profit-taking after sentiment turned cautious amid concerns over U.S. sanctions against Russia’s two largest oil companies.
Besides, an over 1% decline in heavyweight Reliance Industries also pulled the markets lower.
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 130.06 points, or 0.15%, to settle at 84,556.40. During the day, it jumped 863.72 points, or 1.02%, to 85,290.06.
The 50-share NSE Nifty ended 22.80 points, or 0.09%, higher at 25,891.40.
Domestic equities started on a positive note; however, they pared early gains as investors booked profits following sanctions on Russian oil and the possible postponement of India–U.S. trade negotiations.
“Meanwhile, IT stocks advanced as sentiment improved after Trump’s softer tone on H1B visas… As the undercurrent vibes of the domestic market have improved due to a possible India-U.S. deal and a rise in consumer demand, the broad market is expected to do much better henceforth,” Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.
FIIs are gradually returning to Indian markets, encouraged by expectations of earnings rebound in H2 FY26 supported by festive demand, tax benefits and GST reductions, he added.
From the Sensex firms, Infosys climbed 3.86%. HCL Tech, Tata Consultancy Services, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Titan and Tech Mahindra were also among the gainers.
However, Eternal, UltraTech Cement, Bharti Airtel and Adani Ports were among the laggards.
In Asian markets, Shanghai’s SSE Composite index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng settled higher, while South Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei 225 index ended lower.
Markets in Europe were trading on a mixed note in mid-session deals.
U.S. markets ended in negative territory on Wednesday (October 22, 2025).
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth ₹96.72 crore on Tuesday (October 21, 2025), according to exchange data.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed further sanctions on Open Joint Stock Company Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft) and Lukoil OAO (Lukoil) — Russia’s two largest oil companies that the Trump administration accuses of helping fund the Kremlin’s “war machine” in Ukraine.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude jumped 5.43% to $65.99 a barrel.
Equity markets were closed on Wednesday (October 22, 2025) on account of Diwali Balipratipada.
In a special one-hour Muhurat trading session on Tuesday (October 21, 2025), the Sensex rose by 62.97 points, or 0.07%, to settle at 84,426.34. The Nifty went up by 25.45 points, or 0.10%, to settle at 25,868.60.
Published – October 23, 2025 04:46 pm IST
