Indian Equity Markets Close Mixed as Crude Prices Dip

The Indian equity markets ended on a mixed-to-positive note on Friday, as softer crude prices and supportive Asian cues encouraged selective buying. The Nifty closed 75.80 points higher at 23,346.40, while the Sensex dipped 19.63 points to settle at 74,294.96.

The 30-share BSE Sensex gave up intraday gains during the Closing Auction Session (CAS), and the 50-share NSE Nifty closed with a gain of 0.33 per cent. Among the 30 Sensex firms, Tata Consultancy Services tanked 4.33 per cent, while Adani Ports, Power Grid, HDFC Bank, and Bharti Airtel were among the major winners.

Brent crude declined 1.35 per cent to $103.4 per barrel, offering some relief on concerns over inflation, the rupee, and India's import bill. However, weakness in IT stocks and select Tata Group counters limited the broader recovery.