Fourth Straight Day of Gains
The Nifty 50 surged 390.70 points or 1.60% to close at 24,774.30, its highest level in five months, while the Sensex added 544 points (0.70%) to settle at 78,639.03. A dramatic 200-point surge in the final minutes under the new Closing Auction Session mechanism has stirred debate about price discovery in the last leg of trade. Bank Nifty was the standout, jumping 983 points (1.72%) to 58,247.95, with the Nifty Midcap index also up sharply, confirming broad-based participation rather than a narrow rally.
IT Roars Back on Global Cues
Nifty IT rocketed 3.28% to 31,715.25, tracking a stellar overnight session on Wall Street where the Nasdaq jumped 2.13% to 25,913.9 on Microsoft's upbeat earnings and AI-led optimism. Domestic IT names are also riding company-specific tailwinds — HCLTech's ₹14,257 crore Odisha AI data centre investment, Coforge's bullish FY27 commentary on AI-led deal wins, and Sterlite Technologies' 20-fold profit jump on data-centre demand. The sector's re-rating suggests investors are pricing in a genuine AI capex cycle rather than a one-off earnings beat.
LIC OFS Tests Market Depth
The government's Offer for Sale to divest up to 6.5% in LIC (2.5% base plus 4% greenshoe) opens for non-retail investors today and retail investors tomorrow, at a floor price of ₹382 per share. Combined with block deals in Paytm (₹2,021 crore, Saif Partners and Elevation Capital selling 2.3% at ₹1,339.65) and Meesho (₹1,900 crore, Peak XV and Elevation Capital selling 2.3% at a 5% discount), nearly ₹36,000 crore of fresh paper is hitting the market. This is a real test of whether the current buying momentum, led by both FIIs and DIIs, can absorb heavy secondary supply without denting sentiment.
Bajaj Group Rewrites the Rankings
Bajaj Finance posted its best daily gain in four years, adding nearly ₹53,000 crore in market capitalisation and becoming India's seventh most valuable listed company after a stronger-than-expected June-quarter print, improved asset quality, and a target to grow its loan book to ₹6.5 lakh crore by March 2027. The rally propelled the Bajaj Group past the HDFC Group to become India's fourth-largest conglomerate by market value. Motilal Oswal's upgrade and management's hint at a possible guidance revision after the September quarter have kept the stock in sharp focus.
Earnings Season: A Mixed Scorecard
Q1 results continue to diverge sharply across India Inc. L&T beat estimates with 14% profit growth on strong order inflows, Divi's Laboratories posted a 66% profit surge, Torrent Pharma grew revenue 55%, and UPL returned to form with stronger FY27 guidance. In contrast, DLF's sales bookings crashed 94% to ₹657 crore on deferred launches even as profit rose 4% on strong cash flows, Coal India shares fell 3% on an earnings miss, and ITC and Maruti Suzuki delivered mixed prints, underscoring that this is a stock-picker's earnings season, not a uniform one.
Crude Slump and Windfall Tax Crosscurrents
Brent crude at $84.17 (+0.48%) remains well off recent highs, and easing oil prices alongside reports of Iran-related diplomatic talks have been cited as a key tailwind for Monday's rally, particularly benefiting oil-sensitive sectors. Yet the government simultaneously raised windfall tax on petrol, diesel and ATF exports effective August 3 — petrol to ₹3.5/litre from ₹2.5, diesel to ₹24 from ₹15.5, and ATF to ₹22 from ₹14.5 — a reminder that lower crude does not automatically translate into unrestrained margin expansion for refiners and exporters.
Foreign Flows Return in Force
FPIs pumped ₹20,199 crore into Indian equities in July, reversing a prior selling streak, with NSDL data also showing ₹29,211 crore of debt inflows, partly attributed to volatility in South Korea and Taiwan markets pushing capital toward India. FIIs and DIIs both remained net buyers on Monday, extending the winning streak to a fourth session and helping the Nifty post its biggest weekly gain in nearly four months. This dual institutional support is a meaningful shift from the cautious flows seen earlier in the year.
Sector Rotation Beyond the Headlines
Urban Company shares jumped 16% after Morgan Stanley's double upgrade, while Lodha Developers gained 8% on a fresh Morgan Stanley upgrade with an aggressive Street target. GAIL jumped 4% on strong margin expansion and a Konkan LNG merger announcement, and Adani Energy Solutions secured an ₹8,500 crore Andhra Pradesh transmission order, pushing its order book beyond ₹80,000 crore. Meanwhile, IndiGo's decision to suspend London flights and end its Boeing 787 lease signals that geopolitical and cost pressures are reshaping aviation strategy even as broader markets rally.