New Delhi, July 3, 2026: Domestic equity markets traded higher at midday on Friday, driven by robust performance in information technology stocks. The positive momentum came after a softer-than-expected US jobs report alleviated concerns over near-term Federal Reserve rate hikes and bolstered risk appetite for emerging markets.

The BSE Sensex rallied sharply, surging 655 points to breach the 78,150 mark, while the Nifty 50 added over 200 points to close at 24,378.15.

At 12:40 pm, the Sensex was trading 534.51 points or 0.69 percent higher at 78,036.63, and the Nifty 50 increased by 168.60 points or 0.70 percent to 24,344.30.

Broader markets showed mixed performance, with the Nifty Smallcap 100 rising 0.23 percent, while the Nifty Midcap 100 added 0.04 percent.

The IT sector led the gains across most sectoral indices, with Nifty IT extending its positive streak for a second straight session by climbing 3 percent. Healthcare and real estate sectors also saw robust performance. In contrast, PSU Bank index declined more than 1 percent, while consumer durables and auto stocks lagged behind.

HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra emerged as the top gainers among Nifty 50 constituents, followed by Max Healthcare, Eternal, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries. State Bank of India, InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo), Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Trent were notable losers.

Market breadth remained positive with an overall bias towards gains. As of the time of writing, 1,843 stocks had advanced, 1,345 had declined, and 104 remained unchanged. A significant number of stocks—130 hit their 52-week highs, while 18 touched 52-week lows. The circuit breaker was triggered for a total of 88 stocks, with 56 hitting the lower circuit.

In the midcap segment, GVT&D, Hitachi Energy, PB Fintech, and Tube Investments of India declined by 4-9 percent, pulling down the index. Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services, National Aluminium Company, Aurobindo Pharma, and 360 One WAM gained up to 4 percent.

Among smallcaps, Zensar Technologies, Nuvama Wealth Management, PPL Pharma, Kaynes Technology, and HSCL advanced by 3-11 percent. In contrast, Welspun Corp, Force Motors, Jyoti CNC Automation, and Star Health and Allied Insurance fell by 2-5 percent.

Overall, the robust performance of IT stocks and continued investor confidence contributed to a strong midday session in domestic equity markets.