18.09.202604:43:49UTC+00Sensex Gains as Oil Prices Ease

India’s BSE Sensex inched up about 0.2% to 74,435 on Friday, after a largely flat performance in the previous session. Sentiment was supported by easing crude oil prices, even as lingering tensions in the Middle East and a busy slate of initial public offerings (IPOs) limited further gains. Brent crude slipped 0.9% to around $104 per barrel.

Investors remained focused on the National Stock Exchange’s roughly $2.3 billion IPO. Anticipated foreign inflows tied to the offering could lend support to the rupee, but the heavy IPO pipeline is also siphoning liquidity away from the secondary market.

On the corporate front, Lodha (+3.5%), Yatharth (+6.6%), Netweb (+1.6%), and Syrma SGS (+3.6%) were among the notable gainers. In contrast, technology stocks stayed under pressure, with Infosys (-1.2%), Tech Mahindra (-1.9%), Coforge (-1.2%), and Wipro (-1.1%) closing in the red. Tata group counters were also among the key laggards, as TCS, Tata Motors, Tata Investment Corporation, and Tata Chemicals declined between approximately 2.6% and 7.8%.