Stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher for the third day on Friday (July 31, 2026), tracking a sharp rally in Bajaj Finance, foreign fund inflows and a decline in crude oil prices. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 166.49 points, or 0.21%, to settle at 78,094.64. During the day, it jumped 344.1 points, or 0.44%, to 78,272.25. The 50-share NSE Nifty gained 66.45 points, or 0.27%, to end at 24,383.60.

From the Sensex pack, Bajaj Finance jumped 8.11% after the firm on Thursday (July 30, 2026) reported a 28% year-on-year rise in consolidated profit after tax (PAT) to ₹6,081 crore for the June quarter of FY27, driven by growth in core income and improvement in asset quality.

Bajaj Finserv, Mahindra & Mahindra, Adani Ports, Tata Steel, Reliance Industries, Bharat Electronics and Titan were also among the winners. Tata Consultancy Services, Eternal, Infosys, ITC and InterGlobe Aviation were among the major laggards. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth ₹3,623.51 crore on Thursday (July 30, 2026), according to exchange data.

"Positive momentum continued, although some profit booking emerged at higher levels as caution persisted amid elevated yields and potential rate-hike concerns. The sustainability of the recovery will depend largely on the ongoing earnings season, which is currently outperforming forecasts, and on a reduction in global risks," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said. The domestic IT index witnessed profit booking following its recent rally, he added.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, climbed 0.45% to $89.43 per barrel. In Asian markets, South Korea's KOSPI rebounded sharply and jumped 17.91%. Japan's Nikkei 225, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index also ended in the positive territory.

Markets in Europe were trading in the green. U.S. markets ended significantly higher on Thursday (July 30, 2026). On Thursday (July 30, 2026), the Sensex ended 273.55 points, or 0.35%, higher at 77,928.15. The Nifty went up by 66.95 points, or 0.28%, to settle at 24,317.15.

Published - July 31, 2026 04:43 pm IST