Indian stock markets started the final trading session of the week on a steady note, opening flat but quickly moving into positive territory. Weakness in Asian markets and a lack of direction from Wall Street, coupled with mixed economic data from Japan and South Korea, impacted sentiment. Investors are also closely monitoring India’s GDP figures, expected later today, which could provide further market direction. Reports suggest India’s GDP growth in the July-September quarter may slow to an 18-month low, primarily due to rising food prices affecting urban consumption.

In early trade, markets gained momentum with notable buying interest in utilities and healthcare stocks, offsetting declines in FMCG and IT sectors. The Sensex climbed past the 79,300 mark, while the Nifty regained the 24,000 level.

Additionally, the BSE announced a shift in the expiry dates for key derivatives contracts from Friday to Tuesday, effective January 1, 2025. Metal stocks were in focus after Crisil Ratings predicted that declining steel prices would hit the profitability of domestic steel producers. Meanwhile, Enviro Infra Engineers debuted on the stock exchange, and NCC surged after securing a ₹3,389 crore order.

Market Snapshot:

• Sensex: 79,305.20 (+261.46 points or 0.33%)
• Nifty: 24,003.10 (+88.95 points or 0.37%)
• Top Gainers: Adani Ports (+2.10%), Sun Pharma (+1.74%), Mahindra & Mahindra (+1.47%)
• Top Losers: Power Grid (-1.15%), ITC (-0.57%), TCS (-0.37%)

Global Market Movement:
Asian markets showed mixed trends. Japan's Nikkei and South Korea's KOSPI posted losses, while China’s Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite gained.

Political Commentary:
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressed optimism about India-US relations under a potential new Trump administration, emphasizing Prime Minister Modi’s strong rapport with global leaders and predicting a continuation of positive ties.