First Trade: Sensex gains 179 points, Nifty at 24,370; UCO Bank up 7%

Indian equities in Tuesday's session (April 29, 2025) tracking mixed global cues opened higher. At the open, the 30-share Sensex traded at 80,396.92, while the NSE's Nifty50 edged higher to 24,370.70. Meanwhile, the broader markets also traded with gains with the smallcap pack outerperforming the headline indices.

Furthermore, the high beta Nifty Bank zoomed nearly 500 points or 0.85 per cent, with all the 12 constituents trading in the green as of the last count.

Primarily, buying action in banking stocks is triggered following the RBI's announcement of a fresh round of bond purchases to the tune of Rs 1.25 lakh crore via open market operations (OMOs).

From the Nifty50 pack, top gainers included stocks like Tata Motors, Trent, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank and SBI, while laggards were Cipla, Grasim Industries, Bajaj Finance, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and ITC.

Sectoral performance

Sectorally, amid broad-based buying, PSU Bank and oil & gas gauges led the rally, followed by consumer durables, realty, private bank among others. However, pharma index was the only loser in early trade today.

Stocks in action

Tata Technologies: A block deal worth Rs 1,100 crore is expected in the counter. Reportedly, TPG Rise Climate may sell as much as 3.9 per cent stake in the Tata group company.

TVS Motor:After the robust financial performance for the final three months of FY, TVS Motor shares will react to brokerages' downgrades and upgrades.

Bajaj Finance: Ahead of its Q4 earnings later today, the stock gained traction and last traded with a tad cut at Rs 9,075.

Oil prices

Crude oil prices fell, dragged by lowered demand expectations amid the lingering US-China trade war. Brent crude futures fell by 25 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to $65.61 per bbl by 0024 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 18 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $61.87 a barrel. Both benchmarks fell more than $1 on Monday.