Sensex jumps 650 points, investors get richer by ₹3 lakh crore in a day— What drove the Indian stock market higher?

The Indian stock market ended with healthy gains on Monday, February 16, on buying in most sectors, tracking positive global cues. The Sensex jumped 650 points, or 0.79%, to end at 83,277.15, while the Nifty 50 settled at 25,682.75, rising 212 points, or 0.83%. The BSE 150 MidCap Index rose 0.64%, while the BSE 250 SmallCap Index slipped 0.16%.

Investors got richer by about ₹3 lakh crore in a single session as the overall market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms rose to over ₹468 lakh crore from ₹465 lakh crore in the previous session.

Why did the Indian stock market rise today?

Let's take a look at five key factors behind the rise in the Indian stock market today.

1. Short covering

Short covering in quality stocks after the recent decline helped the market end higher. The Sensex and the Nifty 50 declined by over a per cent last week amid concerns over AI-led disruptions. The market decline brought the prices of many high-quality stocks lower, prompting short covering.

On Monday, positive global cues triggered a short covering in select sectors and stocks. HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank, and Bharti Airtel contributed the most to the gains in the Sensex index.

2. Strong rally in banking stocks

Nifty Bank clocked a solid gain of 1.27%. The significant gains in the heavyweight sector lifted the market benchmarks also. The Nifty PSU Bank and Private Bank indices rose 1.50% and 1.19% respectively.

"After a range-bound opening, domestic markets edged higher, supported by renewed buying interest in banking and power stocks. The power sector gained on expectations of sustained demand momentum, while improved loan growth and stable asset quality bolstered confidence in banks," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, observed.

3. Stable rupee

The Indian rupee closed unchanged at 90.66 per dollar, as per PTI. The domestic currency has gained 1.5% so far in February due to dollar sales by exporters and foreign portfolio inflows.

"Stability in the INR and range-bound crude oil prices ahead of US–Iran talks are offering additional support to domestic equities," said Nair.

4. Softer US inflation prints

Lower-than-expected US CPI (consumer price index) data fuelled hopes of US Fed rate cuts, supporting market sentiment.

The US CPI rose 0.2% in January after an unrevised 0.3% rise in December. Year-on-year, U.S. inflation stood at 2.4% in January, down from the previous month's 2.7%.

The focus is now on the release of FOMC meeting minutes, the US GDP advance estimate, and PCE inflation data for further clues on the US Fed interest rate trajectory.

"A continued decline in the US 10-year yield following benign inflation data strengthened expectations of a Fed rate cut later this year, with investors now closely awaiting the upcoming Fed minutes for further direction," said Nair.

5. Technical factor

Experts highlight that the Sensex and the Nifty 50 are positioned at critical junctures, and the broader structure remains stable as long as the indices remain above key support levels.

Riyank Arora, Associate Vice President – HNI and Derivatives, Hedged.in, said a decisive breakout above 25,630 could open the door for an upside move towards 25,800 and further to 25,900. On the downside, 25,550 remains an immediate support, followed by a major support near 25,500.

"As long as the index holds above these support levels, the broader structure remains stable, while a breakout on the upside could strengthen bullish momentum," said Arora.

For the Sensex, a sustained breakout above 83,000 may lead to an upside rally towards 84,000 and subsequently 84,500. On the downside, 82,500 acts as a major support zone, below which selling pressure could intensify, said Arora.

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Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations expressed are those of individual analysts or broking firms, not Mint. We advise investors to consult with certified experts before making any investment decisions, as market conditions can change rapidly and circumstances may vary.