Pulse of the Street: Oil jitters cap gains; markets end the week flat

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. India’s benchmark indices ended a turbulent week with modest gains on Friday, but sharp swings driven by global cues and a spike in crude oil prices kept investors on the edge. The Nifty 50 closed at 25,571.25, while the BSE Sensex settled at 82,814.70, both rising around 0.4% on Friday.

For the week, however, gains remained muted at roughly 0.2–0.4%, as frequent intraday reversals capped upside momentum and signalled consolidation rather than a clear directional trend. The week was defined by clear sectoral rotation rather than broad-based participation. Power, capital goods and banking stocks led the gains.

The BSE Power index rose 2.6%, supported by optimism around infrastructure and renewable energy spending. Capital goods advanced 2.1% on the back of strong order visibility. Banking stocks remained firm, with the Bankex rising 2% to a lifetime high of 69,153.76, supported by stable asset quality and steady credit growth.

In contrast, export-oriented and consumption-linked sectors lagged. The IT index fell 1.7%, making it the worst performer amid uncertainty over global demand and muted guidance from large IT companies. Auto stocks declined 1.3%, while realty shares edged 0.4% lower as investors booked profits after recent gains.

“The market is rewarding earnings visibility and domestic capex exposure," said Harshal Dasani, business head of INVasset PMS. He noted that power, capital goods and banks are benefiting from strong order inflows, healthy balance sheets and stable asset quality, while technology and consumption stocks are under pressure due to global demand concerns and margin worries. While Indian equities finished flat, key global markets closed the week on a higher