Indian equity benchmarks turned positive and traded half-a-percent higher each in late afternoon session supported by value buying following recent pullback made by the markets. Further, Brent crude oil prices have retreated to trade near $93 a barrel amid hopes of ease in tension between US and Iran after US President Donald Trump indicated that negotiations with Iran were continuing at a rapid pace. Sentiments were also upbeat as Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India and US have finalised most elements of the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA), and negotiations are now focused on a few minor issues. He added that the US team is in India to hold talks on finalising the first phase of the BTA.
On the global front, Asian equity markets were trading mostly in green amid optimism around artificial intelligence. European equity markets were trading higher after France’s state budget deficit narrowed slightly to 69.6 billion euro in January to April 2026 from 69.3 billion euro a year ago.
The BSE Sensex is currently trading at 74662.08, up by 394.74 points or 0.53% after trading in a range of 73815.12 and 74862.19. There were 19 stocks advancing against 11 stocks declining on the index.
The top gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were IT up by 4.28%, TECK up by 2.91%, Telecom up by 1.03%, Consumer Durables up by 1.02% and Consumer Discretionary up by 0.71%, while Power down by 0.92%, Utilities down by 0.79%, Healthcare down by 0.44%, PSU down by 0.22%, Oil & Gas down by 0.15% were the top losing indices on BSE.
The top gainers on the Sensex were TCS up by 6.29%, Infosys up by 5.47%, HCL Technologies up by 4.05%, Tech Mahindra up by 2.17% and Adani Ports & SEZ up by 1.80%. On the flip side, NTPC down by 2.72%, Axis Bank down by 1.78%, Power Grid Corporation down by 1.31%, Bajaj Finance down by 0.98% and ICICI Bank down by 0.69% were the top losers.
Meanwhile, India's power consumption witnessed a 11.55 per cent growth to 164.98 billion units (BU) in May 2026 as compared to 147.89 BU in the corresponding month last year, as an intensifying heatwave across large parts of the country sharply increased electricity consumption from air-conditioners, coolers and other cooling appliances.
The peak power demand jumped to an all-time record high of 270.82 Gigawatt (GW) in May from 230.99 GW recorded in May 2025 amid heat wave conditions. The peak power demand touched an all-time record high for four days in a row in May this year. The peak power demand was at a record high of 257.37 GW on May 18, 260.45 GW on May 19, 265.44 GW on May 20 and 270.82 GW on May 21. Prior to this, the highest demand recorded this year was 256.11 GW on April 25. Earlier, the peak power demand had touched an all-time high of about 250 GW in May 2024.
The power ministry had earlier projected that peak electricity demand would touch 270 GW during the summer of 2026. Last summer, the peak power demand was 242.77 GW, recorded in June 2025, but stayed below the government's estimate of 277 GW.
The CNX Nifty is currently trading at 23478.45, up by 95.85 points or 0.41% after trading in a range of 23229.15 and 23556.95. There were 30 stocks advancing against 20 stocks declining on the index.
The top gainers on Nifty were TCS up by 6.22%, Infosys up by 5.40%, HCL Technologies up by 3.97%, Tech Mahindra up by 2.26% and Adani Ports & SEZ up by 1.67%. On the flip side, NTPC down by 2.90%, Axis Bank down by 1.89%, Power Grid Corporation down by 1.31%, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories down by 1.28% and Bajaj Finance down by 1.16% were the top losers.
Asian equity markets were trading mostly in green; Taiwan Weighted added 219.4 points or 0.48% to 45,557.31, Hang Seng advanced 642.82 points or 2.47% to 26,041.00, KOSPI increased 13.11 points or 0.15% to 8,801.49, Straits Times rose 54.08 points or 1.07% to 5,091.94, Shanghai Composite strengthened 17.36 points or 0.43% to 4,075.10 and Jakarta Composite gained 48.95 points or 0.79% to 6,176.33, while Nikkei 225 slipped 314.33 points or 0.47% to 66,620.00.
European equity markets were trading higher; UK’s FTSE 100 increased 35.38 points or 0.34% to 10,374.33, France’s CAC rose 65.81 points or 0.81% to 8,212.40 and Germany’s DAX gained 194.06 points or 0.78% to 25,197.10.
