FX.co ★ Sensex Finishes on Higher Note

India’s BSE Sensex closed 1.1% higher at 77,569.4 on Friday, extending the previous session’s gains, with technology shares leading the advance and softer crude oil prices offering additional support. Investors also took comfort from reports that the US and Iran will continue technical talks despite recent clashes. However, sentiment was partly restrained by a renewed wave of foreign investor outflows.

Technology stocks outperformed after strong June-quarter earnings from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which rose 1%. The company reported a $9.5 billion order book, $2.6 billion in annualized AI revenue, and signaled an improvement in demand for the current quarter. Peers Tech Mahindra (+2.2%), Infosys (+1.7%), and HCL Tech (+1.5%) also advanced.

Among other major gainers were Reliance (+2.3%), BEL (+2.2%), Axis Bank (+1.9%), Tata Steel (+1.8%), and Bajaj Finance (+1.7%). On the downside, Eternal (-0.9%) and Bharti Airtel (-0.5%) recorded the steepest losses. For the week, the Sensex slipped around 0.3%.