Sensex, Nifty end higher

Indian stock markets closed higher on Monday as buying in IT, pharma, and financial stocks lifted investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex rose 291.17 points, or 0.38 percent, to end at 77,094.07.

The Nifty50 also finished in positive territory, gaining 89.80 points, or 0.37 percent, to close at 24,102.90. The index managed to settle above the 24,100 mark, giving the market a steady finish.

IT and pharma stocks support rally

Tech Mahindra was among the top gainers, rising nearly 2 percent. Sun Pharma, Infosys, and Reliance Industries also closed higher and supported the benchmark indices.

Financial stocks also added strength to the market. HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, and State Bank of India ended with gains.

Sectoral trend remains positive

Most sectoral indices closed in the green. Nifty Media was the top performer, followed by Nifty Pharma, Nifty Healthcare, Nifty Oil & Gas, and Nifty IT.

Banking and financial indices also ended higher. Nifty Bank, Nifty PSU Bank, and Nifty Financial Services showed steady buying during the session.

Some consumer stocks trade weak

Consumer-focused stocks remained under pressure. Asian Paints was one of the top losers, while Titan, Trent, ITC, and Hindustan Unilever also closed lower.

Power Grid, Mahindra & Mahindra, Adani Ports, and Larsen & Toubro also ended in the red, limiting further gains in the benchmark indices.

Broader market sees buying interest

The broader market also ended higher, showing buying beyond large-cap stocks. Midcap, small-cap, and microcap indices gained during the session.

Small-cap stocks performed better than several large-cap names, indicating continued investor interest in select smaller companies.

The close above 24,100 is positive for Nifty in the near term. However, traders may remain selective as global cues, crude oil movement and sector-specific trends continue to guide market direction.