Markets trade slightly in green in early deals

Indian equity markets have made cautious start and are trading slightly in green in early deals on Friday amid mixed cues from other Asian markets. Buying in Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance Industries, Tech Mahindra, Titan and Maruti Suzuki companies’ stocks helped the markets to trade above neutral lines. There was some enouncement in markets as Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said lenders have sanctioned loans worth Rs 34 lakh crore under PMMY to 55 crore beneficiaries without any collateral. However, gains remained limited as traders adopted a wait-and-watch approach ahead of the release of India’s Q2 GDP growth data and the industrial production data for October. 

On the global front, Asian markets were trading mixed following the slightly positive cues from European markets and lack of cues from US markets overnight. The US markets remained closed on Thursday on account of Thanksgiving Holiday. Back home, insurance industry stocks were in focus as rating agency Icra expects individual new business premium (NBP) for the life insurance sector to grow to Rs 1.8 lakh crore in 2025-26 and further to Rs 2 lakh crore in the next fiscal from Rs 1.66 lakh crore in the year-ending March 2025.

The BSE Sensex is currently trading at 85768.57, up by 48.19 points or 0.06% after trading in a range of 85577.82 and 85824.34. There were 12 stocks advancing against 18 stocks declining on the index.

The broader indices were trading in red; the BSE Mid cap index was down by 0.21%, while Small cap index down by 0.30%.

The top gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were Auto up by 0.43%, Metal up by 0.06%, Consumer Disc up by 0.05% and FMCG up by 0.04%, while Oil & Gas down by 0.69%, Telecom down by 0.53%, Utilities down by 0.41%, Power down by 0.39% and Energy down by 0.38% were the top losing indices on BSE.

The top gainers on the Sensex were Mahindra & Mahindra up by 1.31%, Reliance Industries up by 0.39%, Tech Mahindra up by 0.33%, Titan up by 0.29% and Maruti Suzuki up by 0.27%. On the flip side, Asian Paints down by 0.54%, Power Grid down by 0.40%, Axis Bank down by 0.37%, Infosys down by 0.32% and Eternal down by 0.31% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, the finance ministry in its latest report has said that the GST rate rationalisation gave a measurable boost to consumption, and the Indian economy is on a stable footing to navigate risks and maintain growth momentum through the current fiscal. It stated said that with inflationary pressures easing and recent tax reforms boosting household disposable incomes, the near-term consumption outlook appears increasingly positive. 

It mentioned retail inflation has reached an all-time low in the current series, dropping to 0.25 per cent in October 2025, down from 1.44 per cent in September 2025. The decline can largely be attributed to the complete impact of reduced GST rates, a favourable base effect, and significant falls in food inflation. It said ‘The rationalisation of GST rates has provided a measurable boost to consumption, as reflected in the strengthening of high-frequency indicators, including higher e-way bill generation, record festive-season automobile sales, robust UPI transaction values, and a notable rise in tractor sales.’ 

It said that these developments point to broad-based improvements in demand conditions across both urban and rural segments. The full impact of GST rationalisation on spending behaviour would become more evident over the next two quarters.  Effective September 22, the GST rates on about 375 items were slashed, making mass consumption items cheaper. Also, GST rates of 5, 12, 18, and 28 per cent have been clubbed into two rates of 5 per cent and 18 per cent, resulting in a reduced price of 99 per cent of daily use items.

The CNX Nifty is currently trading at 26229.65, up by 14.10 points or 0.05% after trading in a range of 26172.40 and 26251.75. There were 22 stocks advancing against 28 stocks declining on the index.

The top gainers on Nifty were Mahindra & Mahindra up by 1.75%, Reliance Industries up by 0.63%, Hindalco up by 0.51%, Tech Mahindra up by 0.37% and SBI up by 0.36%. On the flip side, HDFC Life down by 0.68%, Power Grid down by 0.49%, Axis Bank down by 0.40%, Asian Paints down by 0.36% and Interglobe Aviation down by 0.35% were the top losers.

Asian markets were trading mixed; Nikkei 225 slipped 46.1 points or 0.09% to 50,121.00, Jakarta Composite plunged 15.76 points or 0.18% to 8,530.11, KOSPI dropped 57.02 points or 1.45% to 3,929.89 and Hang Seng declined 30.93 points or 0.12% to 25,915.00. However, Taiwan Weighted added 195 points or 0.7% to 27,749.53, Shanghai Composite strengthened 8.2 points or 0.21% to 3,883.46 and Straits Times rose 23.04 points or 0.51% to 4,532.38.