Indian equity markets closed modestly higher on Wednesday as easing oil prices and a softer U.S. dollar supported broader investor confidence.
The benchmark 30-share BSE Sensex gained 332.63 points, or 0.45 percent, finishing the session at 74,336.45 as buyers returned to blue-chip names.
The NSE Nifty index also advanced, surging 99 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 23,217.60 by the end of the trading day.
Investors were also keeping a close eye on an eagerly anticipated U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decision scheduled for later in the day.
Oil prices fell nearly 1 percent after industry data revealed an unexpected build in U.S. crude inventories, easing concerns about global supply tightness.
Reports that Saudi Arabia is offering more crude oil to Asian refiners through ship-to-ship transfer off Oman’s Sohar port further helped calm worries about Middle East supply disruptions.
The U.S. dollar pulled back from near multi-week highs while yields on U.S. Treasuries held steady, providing additional support for emerging market sentiment.
BSE mid-cap and small-cap indexes ended the day narrowly mixed, reflecting cautious positioning among retail and institutional investors alike.
Market breadth on the BSE was weak overall, with 2,344 shares declining while 1,990 shares advanced and 227 shares closed unchanged.
Among the top gainers on the day, Sun Pharma, Hindustan Unilever, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Titan Company, BEL, Mahindra & Mahindra, Trent, Axis Bank, SBI, and ITC each rallied between 1 and 2 percent.
Information technology stocks faced selling pressure after posting sharp gains in the previous session, with investors locking in profits across the sector.
Tech Mahindra dropped 1.3 percent, Infosys shed 1.4 percent, and TCS lost 1.6 percent as the IT segment led declines among major index constituents.
The mixed session underscores ongoing caution in Indian markets as global macro factors, including U.S. monetary policy and crude oil dynamics, continue to drive short-term direction.
