Mumbai : Indian benchmark equity indices ended Thursday’s session on a strong note, buoyed by easing crude oil prices, dovish remarks from the US Federal Reserve Chair and optimism surrounding the India–Japan Summit. Broad-based buying across sectors, led by information technology stocks, helped markets extend their gains, with investors drawing confidence from improving global cues and expectations of stronger bilateral economic cooperation.

The BSE Sensex surged 579.48 points, or 0.75 per cent, to settle at 77,502.12, while the Nifty 50 climbed 169.85 points, or 0.71 per cent, to close at 24,175.70, reclaiming the 24,100 level.

Market sentiment remained upbeat as Brent crude prices continued to soften, trading around USD 70.54 per barrel, easing concerns over inflationary pressures and India’s import bill. Investors were further encouraged after the US Federal Reserve Chair signalled a relatively dovish policy stance, reinforcing expectations of a supportive global interest-rate environment and moderating inflation.

Optimism surrounding the ongoing India–Japan Summit also contributed to the rally, with market participants expecting progress on trade, defence cooperation, semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence partnerships, a proposed rupee-yen settlement framework and increased bilateral investment flows.

According to Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments Limited, Indian markets gained momentum as easing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz pushed crude prices lower, while dovish remarks from the Fed Chair strengthened hopes of a favourable global rate environment. He noted that optimism around the India–Japan Summit further boosted investor confidence, with expectations centred on stronger collaboration across trade, defence, semiconductors, AI and capital flows.

Nair added that the market’s next major triggers will be the upcoming US non-farm payrolls data, key announcements from the India–Japan Summit and the Q1 FY27 corporate earnings season.

Technology stocks emerged as the clear outperformers during the session. The Nifty IT index rallied 4.64 per cent, supported by aggressive short-covering and growing confidence that Indian IT companies will remain key beneficiaries of rising enterprise spending on artificial intelligence. Realty stocks gained 1.45 per cent, followed by Auto (1.21 per cent), Metal (0.88 per cent), FMCG (0.56 per cent) and Pharma (0.50 per cent). The Nifty PSU Bank index was the only sector to end in negative territory, slipping 0.43 per cent.

Among the Nifty 50 constituents, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies and Tata Consultancy Services led the gains, reflecting strong buying interest in technology stocks. On the other hand, Max Healthcare, Larsen & Toubro, Axis Bank, Nestlé India, Reliance Industries and Kotak Mahindra Bank were among the day’s major laggards.

Asian markets, meanwhile, delivered a mixed performance. Singapore’s Straits Times Index rose 1.07 per cent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.35 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei 225, South Korea’s KOSPI and Taiwan’s Weighted Index ended lower.

With global macroeconomic conditions showing signs of improvement and domestic sentiment supported by easing crude prices and positive policy expectations, investors will now closely watch US economic data, developments from the India–Japan Summit and the upcoming Q1 FY27 earnings season for the next direction in Indian equities.