Mumbai, Sep 18: Indian stock markets ended Friday on a mixed note, with the Sensex finishing almost unchanged while the Nifty managed to post a modest gain. Strong buying in mid- and small-cap stocks provided support to the broader market despite a largely range-bound session for the benchmark indices.
The Sensex declined 19.63 points, or 0.03 per cent, to close at 74,294.96. The Nifty, meanwhile, rose 75.80 points, or 0.33 per cent, to settle at 23,346.40.
Market activity remained cautious at the benchmark level, but investor interest in selected stocks and broader market segments helped keep sentiment relatively positive.
The Nifty’s close above the 23,300 level was seen as an important technical development. Market observers said that if the index continues to hold above this level, the recovery could extend towards 23,500–23,600. The 23,200 and 23,000 levels are being watched as key support zones.
Broader markets performed better than the frontline indices. The Nifty MidCap index gained 1.24 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index advanced 1.74 per cent, reflecting stronger buying interest in these segments.
Among major Nifty stocks, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Adani Enterprises and Bharti Airtel were among the notable gainers.
Sector-wise, metal, realty, oil and gas, cement and chemical stocks attracted buying interest. The IT index, however, remained under pressure and recorded the biggest decline among the major sectoral indices.
According to market observers, softer crude oil prices and a decline in global bond yields helped improve investor sentiment. Positive global market cues following expected policy decisions by major central banks also offered some support.
However, geopolitical uncertainty continued to keep investors cautious. Analysts said sustained buying across a wider range of stocks will be important if the recent recovery is to continue.
With the Nifty now above 23,300, investors are likely to closely watch global markets, crude oil prices, bond yields and domestic market participation in the coming sessions. The broader market’s performance will also remain an important indicator of investor confidence as equities enter the next week.