13.08.202611:04:41UTC+00Sensex Finishes Slightly Higher

India’s BSE Sensex closed about 0.2% higher at 78,080 after a choppy Thursday session, snapping a two-day losing streak. The recovery was supported by falling crude prices and a broadly positive earnings season. Sentiment was further aided by fading expectations of imminent Federal Reserve rate hikes, although persistent uncertainty in the Middle East capped overall gains.

Select heavyweight stocks and segments of the broader market advanced, helping to offset weakness in financial, metal, and energy counters. Among individual names, IndiGo led the gainers with a 2.9% rise, followed by NTPC (up 2%), BEL (2%), and L&T (2%).

Tata Group shares also showed some stabilization after a sharp selloff on Wednesday that followed the surprise resignation announcement of N. Chandrasekaran.

On the downside, ICICI Bank dropped 1.3%, making it the session’s biggest laggard. Titan fell 1.1%, while Reliance Industries declined 0.8%. UltraTech Cement eased 0.7% after a block deal of 2.51 million shares, representing 0.86% of the cement major’s total equity.