by Mr. Vikram Kasat, Head – Advisory, PL Capital.

“Indian equity markets ended mixed on Friday after a choppy session. The Sensex gained 260 points while the Nifty held firm around 24,350, despite weak market breadth. Early optimism, driven by positive global cues and trade deal hopes between the U.S. and India, faded as selling pressure emerged in metals and auto stocks. JSW Steel was the biggest drag, slipping over 6%, while Eicher Motors, Bajaj Auto, and Nestle India also posted notable losses.

On the other hand, oil & gas stocks provided support, with Adani Ports jumping 4.14%. Maruti Suzuki and IndusInd Bank also added strength to the benchmarks. Sector-specific action and high trading volumes in large-cap names pointed to investor caution amid ongoing volatility. With more decliners than gainers and no clear trend, the market seemed to pause ahead of fresh triggers. Whether it’s a calm before the storm or just a slow Friday — only next week will tell.”