Indian Market Close
The Nifty 50 closed sharply higher at 24,194.80, gaining 352.15 points or 1.48% on Thursday, April 17, 2026. The index traded in a range of 24,145.80 to 24,280.90 during the session. The Sensex jumped 504 points, while banking stocks including HDFC Bank and Axis Bank led sectoral gains.
| Index | Close | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,194.80 | +352.15 | +1.48% |
| Sensex | — | +504 | — |
Market Drivers
Banking stocks powered the rally, with Axis Bank surging to ₹1,350.80 from an opening price of ₹1,318.00, representing a session gain of over 2%. HDFC Bank added 0.57% to close at ₹799.95. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories climbed to ₹1,232.20, gaining ground from its intraday low of ₹1,204.00.
Broader market participation remained strong as heavyweights across sectors contributed to the advance. Wipro declined 2.84% to ₹204.28, emerging as one of the session's notable laggards. Jio Financial Services gained 1.13% to ₹243.99, while Eternal edged up 0.12% to ₹253.01.
GIFT NIFTY Session
GIFT NIFTY closed at 24,402.50, up 188.5 points or 0.78% from the previous close of 24,214.00. The contract opened at 24,223.50 and hit an intraday high of 24,410.00 before settling near session peaks. The day's low of 24,084.00 was recorded during early trade, after which the index staged a steady recovery through the Indian cash market session.
| GIFT NIFTY | Level |
|---|---|
| LTP | 24,402.50 |
| Open | 24,223.50 |
| High | 24,410.00 |
| Low | 24,084.00 |
| Change | +188.50 (+0.78%) |
The derivatives contract mirrored the cash market's positive tone, with intraday volatility subsiding as the session progressed. A sharp rally developed around midday IST, pushing GIFT NIFTY from the 24,130 zone to above 24,310 in less than an hour, before settling into a consolidation phase through the afternoon.
Session II Outlook
GIFT NIFTY heads into the evening session at 24,402.50, having reclaimed the 24,400 handle after Thursday's broad-based advance in the cash market.