After opening day on a positive note, Indian benchmark indices gained as the session progressed and ended the day over 140 points higher.

Benchmark equity indices BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 continued their northward movement for the third consecutive session to settle with gains on Wednesday.

At the closing bell, the BSE Sensex closed Higher by 147 points (up 0.2%)

Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty closed points 73 Higher (up 0.3%)

HDFC Bank, Power Grid Corp, and IndusInd Bank are among the top gainers today

Tech Mahindra, Infosys, and TCS on the other hand, were among the top losers today.

The GIFT Nifty was trading at  22,964 higher by 69 points at the time of writing.

The BSE MidCap index ended 2.3% higher and the BSE SmallCap index ended 2.2% higher.

Sectoral indices were trading mixed with stocks in IT and media witnessing selling pressure. While stocks in power and realty witnessing buying.

The rupee is trading at Rs 86.4 against the US$.

Gold prices for the latest contract on MCX are trading 0.1% lower at Rs 88,622 per 10 grams.

Meanwhile, silver prices were trading 0.7% lower at Rs 1,00,550 per 1 kg.
 

Why Defence stocks are Rising?

In the news from the defence sector, Indian defence stocks witnessed a significant surge in trading on Wednesday, driven by Germany's approval of a substantial spending package. The development sparked optimism about potential collaborations and deals between Indian defence companies and their German counterparts.

Indian defence stocks witnessed a significant rally, with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers leading the charge. The company's shares skyrocketed 20% to Rs 1,641 per share.

Other defence majors also posted substantial gains, with Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders and Cochin Shipyard surging 10% each. Paras Defence & Space Technologies rose 6.5% to Rs 963.3 per share, while Hindustan Aeronautics gained 5.3% to Rs 3,772.4 per share.

Shares of Idea Forge Technologies emerging as one of the top gainers. The company's shares surged 17.7% to Rs 396 per share.

Bharat Dynamics also posted a significant gain, rising 8.5% during the session. Notably, all 16 stocks in the Nifty India Defence Index were trading in the green, with Garden Reach and Idea Forge leading the charge.

India's defence exports have witnessed a significant surge, reaching an all-time high of Rs 210 bn in FY24, marking a 33% increase from the previous fiscal year. The country has set an ambitious target of Rs 300 bn in defence exports by FY26.

Nifty Bank Index Sees Fifth Gain

Moving on to the news from banking sector, Banking shares extended their gains for the fifth consecutive session on 19 March 2025, propelling the Bank Nifty index higher by 1% to approximately 49,700.

This recent resurgence has gathered significant momentum, enabling the index to partially recoup the substantial losses incurred since December 2024.

AU Small Finance Bank emerged as the top performer on the index, surging approximately 4% on 19 March 25. This significant uptick came on the heels of the stock touching a 52-week low of Rs 478 on 18 March 2025, indicating a potential reversal in fortunes for the banking stock.

Federal Bank and Punjab National Bank (PNB) shares saw a significant uptick, rising around 2% each, while IndusInd Bank shares rose approximately 1.8%.

Several banking stocks witnessed significant gains, with Canara Bank and Bank of Baroda shares rising over 1% each. Heavyweight stocks, including State Bank of India (SBI) and Axis Bank, also saw notable increases, trading 1% higher at Rs 746 and Rs 1,057 per share, respectively.

HDFC Bank's share price rose nearly 1% to Rs 1,748 per share. Meanwhile, IDFC First Bank, ICICI Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank shares traded with modest gains.
 

Bajaj Healthcare Shares Touch Record High

Moving on to the news from healthcare sector, Bajaj Healthcare's stock price witnessed a significant surge, skyrocketing 10.5% on the BSE. This substantial uptick propelled the company's shares to an all-time high of Rs 744.9 per share, marking a notable milestone for the pharmaceutical firm.

As of the latest trading session, Bajaj Healthcare's market capitalization stood at a notable Rs 22.6 billion (bn). The company's stock has exhibited significant volatility over the past year, with a 52-week high of Rs 744.9 per share, marking a substantial increase from its 52-week low of Rs 265 per share.

Bajaj Healthcare is set to initiate Phase III clinical trials for Cenobamate Tablets, testing various strengths.

These large-scale trials will assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the tablets. Upon successful completion, the company will seek final approval for commercial launch in India. Bajaj Healthcare will also manufacture the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) for the tablets.

Bajaj Healthcare is a diversified player in the pharmaceutical industry, with expertise in manufacturing intermediates, APIs, formulations, and nutraceuticals. The company boasts state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities that cater to both advanced and emerging markets.

Bajaj Healthcare's stock has been a standout performer, surging 124% over the past year.

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