Markets at Noon: Nifty and Sensex Edge Higher, Oil & Gas Sector Shines
Indian stock markets are trading positively at midday, with Nifty 50 up 0.31% at 24,953.50 and Sensex gaining 0.35% to 81,561.37. Cables and Engineering Services lead sector gains, while Castings, Forgings & Fasteners underperform. Ashok Leyland hits a 52-week high, surging 8.2%. Oil & Gas sector shows strong performance, offsetting weakness in other areas. Market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic with mixed sector performance.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Market Overview
The Indian stock markets are trading in positive territory at midday, with both benchmark indices showing modest gains. The Nifty 50 is currently trading at 24,953.50, up 76.55 points or 0.31% from its previous close. Similarly, the BSE Sensex stands at 81,561.37, registering an increase of 287.62 points or 0.35%.
Sectoral Performance
Top Performing Sectors
Sector | Avg. Per Change |
---|---|
Cables | 3.16% |
Engineering Services | 3.00% |
Oil & Gas | 1.47% |
Underperforming Sectors
Sector | Avg. Per Change |
---|---|
Castings, Forgings & Fasteners | -1.67% |
Insurance | -0.46% |
Aerospace & Defense | -0.26% |
Buzzing Stocks
Ashok Leyland: Shares surged 8.2% to ₹131.96, reaching a new 52-week high of ₹132.80, following record Q1 performance and positive broker ratings.
Vodafone Idea: The stock closed 5% higher at ₹6.46 as the company explores non-banking funding sources to maintain capital expenditure plans.
Hindalco Industries: Reported a 30% year-on-year increase in net profit to ₹4,004 crores for Q1FY26, with strong performance in the India business.
VA Tech WABAG: Secured a repeat order worth approximately ₹118 crores from Bahrain for operating and maintaining a sewage treatment plant.
Market Breadth
The overall market sentiment appears mixed, with positive momentum in select sectors offsetting weakness in others. The Oil & Gas sector's strong performance is particularly noteworthy, while the Castings, Forgings & Fasteners sector faces significant pressure.
Conclusion
As the trading session progresses, investors are closely watching sector-specific movements and individual stock performances. The modest gains in benchmark indices suggest cautious optimism in the market, with select stocks and sectors driving the positive sentiment.