FX.co ★ India Stocks Head for 3rd Straight Weekly Gains

In the opening session on Friday, the BSE Sensex experienced a rise of 508 points or 0.6%, reaching 82,018, thereby continuing the upward trend for a third consecutive day. This upswing was prompted by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) recent policy adjustments, which included a 50 basis points reduction in the benchmark policy repo rate, bringing it down to 5.5%, alongside a 100 basis points decrease in the cash reserve ratio to 3%. Meanwhile, the central bank maintained its GDP growth forecast at 6.5% for the financial year 2025–26. Leading the charge were sectors sensitive to interest rates, with real estate climbing 2.9%, financial services advancing 1.3%, and the banking sector appreciating by 1.2%. Market participants, however, remain vigilant with an eye on the upcoming US employment report for insights into the Federal Reserve's potential policy directions, as well as the forthcoming Chinese consumer price index, producer price index, and trade data scheduled for release next Monday, considering ongoing deflation concerns and uncertainty regarding US tariffs. Among the standout performers were Bajaj Finance, which gained 3.3%, Axis Bank with a 2.4% increase, Maruti Suzuki rising by 2.3%, and JSW Steel, which climbed 1.8%. Overall, the index appears poised to record a weekly gain of approximately 0.7%, marking its third consecutive weekly ascent, buoyed by robust domestic economic data.