Sensex rebounds into green, Nifty retakes 24,000 as smallcaps rally in early trade

Indian equity benchmarks recovered from a weak opening to trade in positive territory on Tuesday, supported by gains in banking, IT and broader market stocks.

Investor sentiment improved despite lingering concerns around geopolitical tensions in West Asia, helping frontline indices pare early losses.

At around 9:35 am, the BSE Sensex was up 37 points at 76,526, while the Nifty 50 traded above the key 24,000 mark at 24,033.

Banking, IT stocks lead recovery

Financial stocks played a key role in the market’s rebound after a cautious start. The Nifty Bank index rose 0.20% to 55,405, while private and PSU banking shares also witnessed buying interest.

Heavyweights including HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank traded in the green.

IT stocks also supported the upmove, with the Nifty IT index gaining 0.32%. Shares of Infosys and Tech Mahindra were among the major contributors.

Smallcaps outperform broader market

Broader market indices continued to outperform benchmark indices, reflecting sustained investor appetite in mid- and small-cap segments.

The Nifty Smallcap 100 index climbed 0.84%, while the Smallcap 50 gained 0.80%. The Nifty Microcap 250 index jumped more than 1%, extending the broader market rally.

Midcap stocks also traded with firm gains, indicating continued participation beyond large-cap counters.

Media, metal stocks shine

Among sectoral indices, media stocks emerged as the top gainers, with the Nifty Media index rising over 1%. Metal shares also attracted buying interest, lifting the Nifty Metal index by 0.45%.

Oil & gas, chemicals and PSU banking stocks traded with positive momentum through the early session.

On the other hand, defensive sectors lagged. Consumer durables, healthcare and FMCG shares remained under pressure, while cement stocks also traded weak.

Meanwhile, the India VIX slipped 1.46% to 16.46, signalling easing volatility despite continued geopolitical uncertainty globally.

Strong market breadth and gains in broader indices suggested investors remained optimistic, although crude oil prices and developments in West Asia continue to remain key triggers for the market.