MUMBAI — Indian equity benchmark indices opened in the green on Monday, driven by strong buying interest in banking and IT heavyweights such as HDFC Bank and Infosys. The positive momentum reflected supportive global cues, even as investors continued to monitor rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

In opening trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex rose 202.42 points to reach 77,744.15. Similarly, the broader 50-share NSE Nifty advanced 55.35 points, trading at 24,309.00.

Major Movers: IT Heavyweights and Steel Leads Gains

Among the top gainers on the BSE Sensex, technology stocks showed notable strength alongside steel majors and financial blue-chips. The key gainers in early trade included:

  • Infosys

  • HCL Tech

  • Tata Steel

  • Tech Mahindra

  • Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

  • HDFC Bank

On the flip side, select consumer and energy-adjacent counters faced selling pressure. Asian Paints, Titan, Power Grid, and Bharat Electronics emerged as the primary laggards in the early morning basket.

Global Cues and Commodity Markets

On the global front, international oil prices saw a modest pullback. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded down by 1.32% at $93.14 per barrel.

However, major Asian equity markets opened largely lower. South Korea's Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225, China's Shanghai SSE Composite, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were all trading in negative territory during early Asian hours. Wall Street had closed higher during the previous session on Friday.

Market analysts cautioned that ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to weigh on broader investor sentiment.

"Middle East tensions continue to shape the broader market mood. Iran has warned of retaliation against countries participating in the US 'economic war', reinforcing concerns that the confrontation could deepen rather than ease in the near term," said Ponmudi R, CEO of online trading and wealth-tech firm Enrich Money. "For Indian investors, the prolonged US-Iran standoff and its implications for energy prices remain a key source of uncertainty."

Foreign Capital Flows and Previous Session Recap

Institutional flows continued to reflect caution among overseas investors. According to official exchange data, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers, offloading equities worth ₹542.71 crore on Friday.

During the previous trading session on Friday, the domestic indices ended virtually flat after a volatile day. The Sensex had edged up just 3.11 points to close at 77,540.83, while the Nifty gained 20.15 points, or 0.08%, to settle at 24,252.00.