The Indian benchmark indices witnessed a sharp turnaround:
- The BSE Sensex surged 1,006 points or 1.27%, closing at 80,218, after hitting a fresh calendar year high of 80,322.
- The NSE Nifty 50 jumped 289 points or 1.2%, ending the session at 24,329, trading between 24,054 to 24,355 during the day.
- BSE MidCap index rallied +1.4%.
- BSE SmallCap index ended with a modest gain of +0.4%.
Impact on the stock market
- Oil & Gas index led the gains, rising nearly +3%, driven largely by Reliance’s rally.
- Bankex, Capital Goods, Auto, Metal, and Healthcare indices each closed over +1.5% higher.
You may also like: Indus Towers stock analysis & expert insights in detail
| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | -0.22% |
| Healthcare sector | 2.07% |
| Oil & Gas sector | 3.18% |
| Real estate sector | 1.41% |
| PSU Bank in India | -0.22% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Price (in Rs) | Change % |
| Reliance Share price | 1,368.80 | 5.26 |
| Sun Pharma Share price | 1,841.60 | 3.03 |
| JSW Steel Share price | 1,054.40 | 2.53 |
| Bharat Elec Share price | 305.05 | 2.50 |
| SBI Life Insura Share price | 1,736.10 | 2.42 |
Top losers today
| Company | Price (in Rs) | Change % |
| Shriram Finance Share Price | 655.20 | -5.95 |
| Adani Enterpris Share Price | 2,354.30 | -3.61 |
| Adani Ports Share Price | 1,193.00 | -3.51 |
| Axis Bank Share Price | 1,166.30 | -3.38 |
| Trent Share Price | 5,145.00 | -3.35 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
UltraTech Cement: Strong results but muted stock reaction
Despite reporting a 10% rise in consolidated net profit to ₹2,482 crore for Q4FY25 and declaring a handsome dividend of ₹77.5 per share, UltraTech Cement stock ended 0.8% lower at ₹12,141.
Revenue grew 13% YoY to ₹23,063 crore, but the mild drop suggests that results were already priced in or some investors chose to book profits.
Retail investors trim exposure in small and midcaps
Retail investors seem to have turned cautious on small and midcaps amid Q4 volatility:
- BSE MidCap fell 10.6% and BSE SmallCap dropped 15.5% during Jan–March 2025.
- Over 56% of midcap firms and 51% of smallcap companies saw retail shareholding dip.
- Analysts believe this is not panic selling, but rather a correction after valuations ran too hot in previous quarters.
- Moving forward, selective investing is advised; quality stocks may see fresh accumulation, while weaker names might continue facing pressure.
Defence stocks rally amid border tensions
Defence sector stocks were on fire today amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan:
- The Nifty Defence Index soared 4.5%, its biggest intraday gain since April 15, 2025.
- Paras Defence rallied 11.66%, hitting ₹1,167 intraday.
- Garden Reach Shipbuilders surged 9.17%, and Data Patterns gained 8.17%.
- Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) added 3.28%, becoming the second-best Nifty50 gainer after Reliance.
Fresh tensions along the border, combined with expectations of a ramp-up in defence spending, led to this strong buying momentum. Defence-related companies may continue to remain in focus if geopolitical risks stay elevated.
Crude oil update: A cautious rise
Despite the uncertainty around the US-China trade war, crude oil futures rose slightly today:
| Contract | Price Movement |
| July Brent Futures | $65.96 (+0.24%) |
| June WTI Futures | $63.23 (+0.33%) |
| MCX May Crude Futures | ₹5,417 (+0.39%) |
- Hopes of easing US-China tensions gave some support to oil prices.
- However, the market is also closely watching the upcoming OPEC+ meeting next week, where a decision on production output hikes could influence oil’s next big move.
- Additionally, developments around the Russia-Ukraine situation also add to global commodity market uncertainty.
Conclusion
28th April 2025 turned out to be a bullish day for Dalal Street. With support from heavyweight Reliance Industries, strong banking counters, and a revival in broader markets, investors found reasons to cheer.
- Large-cap strength remains visible.
- Smallcaps and midcaps are seeing selective interest, not all boats are rising equally anymore.
- Defence stocks could continue to remain in focus amid geopolitical concerns.
- Crude oil prices look cautiously upward ahead of major global meetings.
While today’s rally is encouraging, global tensions and earnings outcomes could still bring bouts of volatility. Investors are advised to stay diversified and avoid chasing runaway rallies without due diligence.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
