Indian benchmark equity indices opened higher on Thursday as improving sentiment over a possible US-Iran peace agreement, easing crude oil prices, and stronger-than-expected corporate earnings boosted investor confidence during early trade.

BulletsIn

• Sensex opened at 78,782.43, gaining around 200 points (0.25%), while Nifty 50 started at 24,632.65, rising 8 points (0.03%) amid positive domestic and global cues.
• Market sentiment improved following reports of progress toward a possible US-Iran peace understanding, raising expectations of reduced geopolitical tensions and improved stability in global financial markets.
• Information Technology, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and healthcare stocks led early gains, with Nifty IT, Nifty Chemicals, Nifty Pharma, and Nifty 500 Healthcare advancing up to 0.50%.
• Cement, metals, automobiles and real estate sectors traded under pressure, as Nifty Cement, Nifty Metal, Nifty Auto, and Nifty Realty declined by as much as 0.52% during early trading.
• Among major laggards on the Nifty 50 were Trent, Mahindra & Mahindra, NTPC, Power Grid, Bajaj Finance, Bharti Airtel, ONGC, Hindalco, JSW Steel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Steel, and Bajaj Auto.
• Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers on Wednesday, offloading Indian equities worth ₹943 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) purchased shares worth ₹2,883 crore, providing strong market support.
• Reports indicating a proposed maritime understanding involving Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz further strengthened investor optimism by raising hopes of easing regional tensions.
• In the commodities market, Brent crude slipped 0.51% to remain below $80 per barrel, while WTI crude declined 0.77% to $74.64, offering relief to oil-importing economies such as India.