The Indian benchmark indices opened on a positive note today, tracking mixed cues from global market as caution prevailed ahead of the highly anticipated U.S. Fed policy announcement. The BSE Sensex was up by 250 points, or 0.31%, at 82,642, while the NSE Nifty advanced by 92.90 points or 0.37% to 25,322. 

On the Nifty 50 index, 38 stocks advanced, and 12 declined. On the Sensex 30 index, 21 companies gained, while 9 declined. 

On the NSE, Tata Consumer Products soared by 2.97% in the first hour of trade, bringing its share price to Rs 1,124.50. Bharat Electronics (BEL) and UltraTech Cement followed, each rising by 2.31% and 1.21% respectively. Tata Motors shares too were up by 1%, even amidst a crisis in its British subsidiary, Jaguar Land Rover, where production has been halted for an extended time till next week. 

On the other hand, Adani Ports, Tata Steel and ITC emerged as major laggards in today’s trade, each declining by 0.45% respectively. 

Whereas Bharat Electronics, UltraTech Cement, and Tata Motors were the top gainers on the Sensex, while Eternal, Titan and Adani Ports dragged by 0.57% to 0.67%. 

Amongst sectors, all except Nifty Pharma and Nifty Healthcare were trading in the green. Nifty IT and Nifty Media outperformed their peers, each rising by 0.85%. Leading the IT pack was Persistent Systems, which soared by 3.14%, followed by Mphasis, which was up by 1.01%. Nifty Auto continues to keep its momentum, advancing by 0.32%. 

Broader markets extend their gains in today’s session as well, with all indices trading in the positive. Nifty Midcap 50 was up by 0.26%, and the Nifty Smallcap 50 added 0.74%. India VIX too cooled down by 1.02%, at 10.17. 

Amongst individual stocks, Apollo Tyres recorded a 0.50% gain in its share price, after the BCCI announced that the company would be the new sponsor for Team India after Dream11 stepped down. Akzo Nobel too rose by 0.43%, after CCI has approved the acquisition of up to 75% stake in Akzo Nobel India by JSW Paints, via a share purchase agreement and mandatory open offer. 

Today’s positive investor sentiment aided in the current trading session to rally, as the resumption of bilateral talks between the US and India has fueled optimism. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement that the discussions were positive and forward looking covering various aspects of the trade deal. “It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement,” the statement said.