Sensex, Nifty open higher as banking and financial stocks gain in early trade

The S&P BSE Sensex gained 115.61 points to 74,717.73, while the NSE Nifty50 added37.30 points to 22,584.85 as of 9:20 AM. 

Benchmark stock market indices opened higher on Thursday, driven by gains in heavyweight banking and financial sector stocks in early trade.

The S&P BSE Sensex gained 115.61 points to 74,717.73, while the NSE Nifty50 added37.30 points to 22,584.85 as of 9:20 AM.

Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Financial Services said that since a broad rally in the market will need indications of recovery in growth and earnings, investors can focus on micros rather than macros in the near-term.

"Plenty of stock-specific action ahead, despite headwinds from FII selling and Trump tariffs news. Sharp correction in the broader market has made the valuations in certain segments attractive. Defence stocks, which had run up too much too fast, have corrected sharply making their valuations attractive for long-term investors," he added.

In FY25, so far, FIIs have sold stocks in the cash market for Rs 3,87,976 crores. Interestingly, the DIIs have more than compensated for this selling through buying for Rs 5,55,519 crores. Despite this, the market has been trending down. It is possible that the activity of HNIs, UHNIs and family offices which are not reflected in the DII data are also impacting the market. This smart investor category might have been on the sell side since they move with the fundamentals, and, fundamentals have been deteriorating with the cyclical slowdown in GDP growth and corporate earnings.