19.12.202505:10:05UTC+00Indian Stocks Gain, but Poised for 2nd Weekly Decline

The BSE Sensex experienced a rise of 469 points, or 0.6%, reaching 84,950 during Friday morning trading. This uptick broke a four-day losing streak and mirrored the positive momentum seen in Asian markets, which followed an encouraging session on Wall Street. The optimism in the U.S. markets stemmed from lower inflation figures, bolstering expectations for potential interest rate reductions by the Federal Reserve in the coming year. Nearly all sectors were trading positively, with noteworthy gains in sectors including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, and automobiles. Concurrently, the Nifty 50 increased by 0.2%, mid-cap stocks by 0.3%, and small-cap stocks by 0.6%. Traders, however, remain focused on the upcoming release of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) meeting minutes later today, seeking insights into the central bank's future monetary policy direction. Notable stocks leading the gains included Tata Motors, which increased by 1.4%, Reliance Industries up by 1.3%, and Bajaj Finserv rising by 1.2%. Additionally, Power Grid, Infosys, and Larsen & Toubro each saw a 1.0% lift. Despite these gains, the index is poised for a 0.4% weekly decline, marking the second straight weekly loss, amidst continued foreign outflows and ongoing uncertainty surrounding a potential trade agreement between the U.S. and India.