Indian Benchmarks Edge Higher Amid Geopolitical Optimism and Strong NBFC Earnings

Indian equity markets maintained a positive trajectory on Thursday, with the BSE Sensex and Nifty50 indices trading higher despite some intraday profit-taking. The Sensex rose 270.34 points, or 0.35%, to reach 78,381.58, while the Nifty50 climbed 91.75 points, or 0.38%, to 24,323.05. Market sentiment was bolstered by positive global cues, specifically expectations surrounding upcoming peace negotiations between the United States and Iran. Investors are hopeful that these talks will mitigate ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, thereby reducing geopolitical risk premiums. Corporate earnings played a pivotal role in the session's performance. HDB Financial Services surged over 8% following a reported 41.4% increase in profit after tax, which reached ₹751 crore for the quarter ending March 31, 2026, compared to ₹531 crore in the previous year. Similarly, ICICI Lombard General Insurance saw its stock rise 1.5% after reporting a 7.25% year-on-year increase in net profit to ₹547 crore. The broader market showed significant strength, with 2,544 stocks advancing on the BSE compared to 1,321 declines. Top gainers included Hindalco, which rose 2.7%, and Bajaj Finance, which climbed more than 2%. Conversely, heavyweights like Reliance Industries and Bharti Airtel faced slight pressure, declining between 0.5% and 0.8%.