Stock Market Open Report Today, October 29, 2026: Sensex, Nifty Edge Higher After Flat Start as US Fed Holds Rates, Oil Cools

Mumbai, Oct 29: Indian equity benchmarks edged higher on Thursday after flat start, with the Nifty reclaiming the
22,700 mark, as the US Federal Reserve’s decision to keep rates unchanged as expected and a mild cooling in oil prices lifted sentiment. Gains were held in check by mixed Asian markets, elevated crude and an unresolved Iran war. 

The BSE Sensex rose 167.07 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 73,413.10 at 9:28 am, against Wednesday’s close of 73,246.03. The NSE Nifty 50 gained 33.70 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 22,732.55 at 9:29 am, from its previous close of 22,698.85. Both indices closed lower on Wednesday, so the opening marks a modest rebound. 

The Fed held rates at 3.75 to 4 per cent, but two members wanted a hike and the central bank still calls inflation elevated. Brent crude is lower at $114.63 a barrel, yet the level remains punishing for import-dependent India. A tight Fed and costly oil together weigh on rate-sensitive and import-heavy sectors. 

The Middle East conflict hangs in the balance. A senior Iranian official says Qatar’s latest mediation offered only unacceptable ideas, so a deal is not yet in sight. Qatar-led talks have yielded no breakthrough, and a response from Tehran is expected by the end of the week. 

Global cues are split. Asian stocks are mixed, with South Korea, Shenzhen and Taiwan falling and Australia, Singapore and Malaysia rising, while US stocks ended higher on Wednesday. 

Investors now turn to a heavy Q2 earnings calendar, with Coal India, Asian Paints, InterGlobe Aviation, Trent, Ambuja Cements, Godrej Consumer Products and Suzlon Energy, among those reporting today. They will also watch rate decisions from the European Central Bank today and the Bank of Japan on Friday, both expected to hold rates. 

Gainers & Losers 

In early trade, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (ADANIPORTS) led the Nifty 50 gainers, up 2.39 per cent at Rs 1,803.40 against its previous close of Rs 1,761.30. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) rose 1.80 per cent to Rs 2,504.20 from Rs 2,460, BSE Ltd (BSE) gained 1.14 per cent to Rs 3,524.90 from Rs 3,485, Infosys (INFY) added 1.05 per cent to Rs 1,134.90 from Rs 1,123.15, and Adani Enterprises (ADANIENT) climbed 0.98 per cent to Rs 2,504 from Rs 2,479.80. 

On the other side, Trent (TRENT), which reports results today, was the top loser, down 1.24 per cent at Rs 2,877.90 against Rs 2,913.90, followed by Hindalco Industries (HINDALCO), which fell 1.07 per cent to Rs 884.15 from Rs 893.75. Maruti Suzuki India (MARUTI) lost 0.85 per cent to Rs 11,480 from Rs 11,579, HDFC Bank (HDFCBANK) dropped 0.82 per cent to Rs 679.65 from Rs 685.30, and Asian Paints (ASIANPAINT), also reporting today, slipped 0.74 per cent to Rs 2,267.70 from Rs 2,284.60. 

Broad Market & Sectoral Indices 

Broader markets were mixed. Among broad-market indices, the Nifty Midcap 100 rose 0.18 per cent to 57,379.55, the Nifty Midcap 50 gained 0.15 per cent to 16,525.05 and the Nifty 200 added 0.14 per cent to 13,056.20, while the Nifty Microcap 250 fell 0.39 per cent to 24,258.05, the Nifty Smallcap 500 lost 0.29 per cent to 19,348.65 and the Nifty Smallcap 250 slipped 0.24 per cent to 16,948.65. The India VIX, the fear gauge, was little changed at 16.26. Among sectoral indices, the Nifty IT led with a 1.13 per cent rise to 31,910.75, followed by the Nifty FMCG, up 0.29 per cent at 43,002.60, and the Nifty PSU Bank, up 0.23 per cent at 8,152.70. The Nifty Chemicals fell 0.45 per cent to 26,649.85, the Nifty Media lost 0.34 per cent to 1,631.85 and the Nifty Cement slipped 0.33 per cent to 13,339.15. 

Oil Prices 

Brent crude eased $0.69, or 0.60 per cent, to $114.63 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell $1.04, or 1.01 per cent, to $101.74. The dip follows a rise of more than 1 per cent on Wednesday to above $115 after a Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s largest refinery, Ras Tanura. Natural gas slipped 0.10 per cent to $3.029 and heating oil lost 0.6 per cent to $4.786. Even with the cooling, prices remain elevated, and for India, which imports most of its crude, that means a wider import bill, a weaker rupee and stubborn inflation. 

Asian & US Markets 

Asian markets were mixed on Thursday morning. South Korea’s Kospi fell 2.39 per cent to 5,868.66, China’s Shenzhen index slid 2.23 per cent to 11,217.67, Taiwan lost 1.42 per cent to 46,369.16 and the Shanghai Composite eased 0.69 per cent to 3,656.12. On the positive side, Malaysia rose 0.61 per cent, Singapore’s Straits Times gained 0.52 per cent to 5,425.84 and Australia’s ASX 200 added 0.37 per cent to 8,879.90, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Japan’s Nikkei 225 were nearly flat. 

US stocks ended higher on Wednesday as the Fed left rates unchanged. The S&P 500 rose 0.28 per cent to 7,743.98, the Nasdaq Composite added 0.27 per cent to 26,549.85 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.19 per cent to 52,475.10, while the Nasdaq 100 climbed 0.55 per cent and the Russell 2000 rose 0.41 per cent. Transport stocks fell 2.46 per cent and utilities lost 1.08 per cent, while the VIX volatility index declined 3.48 per cent to 16.91. 

US Fed Decision 

The US Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate at 3.75 to 4 per cent on Wednesday, as expected, delaying any change until after the November 3 midterm elections. The 10-2 vote showed two members wanted an immediate 25 basis point hike, and the central bank said inflation remains elevated while upgrading its view of the economy to growth at a strong pace. Chair Kevin Warsh said inflation can be brought down to 2 per cent without slowing growth or raising unemployment, does not see the economy as running too hot, and expects a US third-quarter GDP report on Thursday to show strong investment and consumer spending. Markets now price in about an 85 per cent chance of a December hike, the dollar index fell 0.2 per cent to 102.15 and the euro rose to $1.1160, while investors will watch the European Central Bank on Thursday and the Bank of Japan on Friday, both expected to hold rates. 

Iran War 

Qatari mediators presented Iran with a new draft deal on Sunday, proposing a seven-day timeline of daily confidence-building steps, with several countries as guarantors and a response expected by the end of the week. A senior Iranian official said Doha had offered only unacceptable ideas that did not amount to an offer, and that Tehran’s no-flexibility policy on the nuclear issue is unchanged. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran remains in close contact with intermediaries and that its own seven-day plan could be implemented in under a week. Washington wants the nuclear programme on the table from the outset, while Iran wants the US blockade of its ports and oil sanctions lifted first, and fighting between Yemen’s Houthis and Saudi Arabia has opened a new front in the eight-month war. 

Sensex & Nifty on Wednesday Close 

Indian equity benchmarks ended lower on Wednesday, October 28, as rising crude prices and caution ahead of the Fed decision outweighed a strong stock market debut by Jio Platforms. The Sensex fell 352.64 points, or 0.48 per cent, to close at 73,246.03, while the Nifty 50 declined 50.90 points, or 0.22 per cent, to 22,698.85, slipping below 22,700. IT and oil and gas stocks led the losses, with the Nifty IT and Nifty Oil & Gas indices each down about 2 per cent, while auto, consumer durables, media and pharma indices rose about 1 per cent each. Broader markets outperformed, with the Nifty Midcap index up 0.4 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap index up 0.9 per cent, and Apollo Hospitals, Larsen & Toubro, Trent, SBI Life Insurance and InterGlobe Aviation were among the top gainers. 

Source

• BSE
• NSE