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

Benchmark Indian equity indices  The BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty 50 ended with notable gains in Monday's session.

At the closing bell, the BSE Sensex  closed Higher by 341 points (up 0.5%)

Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty closed 112 points Higher (up 0.5%)

Adani Ports, Axis Bank, and Bajaj Finservare  among the top gainers today

Nestle, Asian Paints, and ITC on the other hand, were among the top losers today.

The GIFT Nifty was trading at  22,591 higher by 173 points at the time of writing.

The BSE MidCap index ended 0.8% higher and the BSE SmallCap index ended flat.

Barring the FMCG sector and realty sector all other sectoral indices were trading positive with stocks in the auto sector and oil & gas witnessing selling pressure.

The rupee is trading at Rs 86.8 against the US$.

Gold prices for the latest contract on MCX are trading 0.1% higher at Rs 88,035 per 10 grams.

Meanwhile, silver prices were trading 0.2% lower at Rs 1,00,540 per 1 kg.
 

Maruti Suzuki's Price Hike Lifts Share

In the news from auto sector, Maruti Suzuki's stock price witnessed a significant surge on Tuesday, with shares rising by 2.1% on the BSE. The company's stock reached an intraday high of Rs 11,755.6 per share.

Maruti Suzuki has announced a price hike of up to 4% for its cars, starting April 2025, due to rising input costs and operational expenses.

The company's market capitalization stood at a substantial Rs 362.3 billion (bn), underscoring its position as a leading player in the Indian automotive industry. Maruti Suzuki's stock has demonstrated significant volatility, with a 52-week high of Rs 13,675 per share and a 52-week low of Rs 10,725 per share.

Maruti Suzuki's latest price hike is part of a broader trend in the Indian automotive sector, where manufacturers are struggling to cope with soaring production costs.

Maruti Suzuki's April price hike follows a previous increase at the start of 2025. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and JSW MG Motor also raised prices by up to 3% from January 2025. Additionally, Hyundai made similar adjustments, increasing prices by up to Rs 25,000.

The decision to raise prices is largely driven by a sharp increase in costs for key raw materials such as aluminium, zinc, and rubber. Aluminium prices surged by 10.6% year-on-year, while rubber saw an even steeper rise of 26.8%.

Maruti Suzuki's shares have experienced a slight decline of 0.76% over the past year.

HCC Gains on Indore Metro Deal

Moving on to the news from infrastructure sector, Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) shares witnessed a significant surge on Tuesday, rising 5.9% on the BSE. The stock reached an intraday high of Rs 23.95 per share, driven by the company's latest milestone.

The rally was triggered by the announcement that HCC's joint venture (JV) with Tata Projects has secured a major contract worth Rs 21.91 bn.

As of the latest market data, Hindustan Construction Company's market capitalization stood at a substantial Rs 419.9 bn. The stock reached a 52-week high of Rs 57.5 per share. Conversely, the 52-week low of Rs 21.98 per share

HCC has secured a prestigious contract from Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL) to develop a critical component of the Indore Metro Rail project. Specifically, the company will design and build an 8.65-kilometer-long corridor, which will include the construction of underground tunnels and stations.

HCC is a renowned business group with a rich engineering heritage spanning nearly a century. The company has played a pivotal role in developing India's infrastructure landscape, executing most of the country's landmark projects.

HCC's impressive portfolio includes constructing 26% of India's hydro power generation, 60% of nuclear power generation, and over 4,036 lane km of expressways and highways.
 

HUDCO Shares Up on Loan Extension

Moving on to the news from finance sector, in a significant development, shares of Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd (HUDCO) surged over 3.5% on 17 March 2025, following the announcement of a substantial loan agreement.

On Sunday, the state-owned firm inked a massive Rs 110 billion loan pact with the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority.

HUDCO shares witnessed a significant uptick on the BSE, rising 3.7% to trade at Rs 188 per share.

The stock's 52-week performance shows a high of Rs 353.7 and a low of Rs 159. As of the latest market data, HUDCO's market capitalization stands at a substantial Rs 375 bn reflecting the company's size.

The loan agreement aims to finance the construction of Amaravati, the greenfield capital city of Andhra Pradesh. This project is a crucial part of the state's urban development initiatives, and HUDCO's financial support is expected to accelerate its progress. The loan deal underscores HUDCO's commitment to supporting infrastructure development and urban growth in the country.

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