Indian stocks recorded their strongest weekly gains in nearly six years Friday, supported by falling crude oil prices and a sharp return of foreign investment.
The Nifty 50 advanced 8.6% for the week, while the Sensex gained 8.8%, marking their best weekly performances since February 2021.
On Friday, the Nifty rose 2.01% to 25,030.35, while the Sensex climbed 2.17% to 81,028.02. Both benchmarks finished at their highest closing levels in more than eight months.
The rally contrasted with losses across several technology-heavy Asian markets, where investors were reducing exposure to companies linked to artificial-intelligence infrastructure spending.
Foreign institutional investors purchased approximately 150 billion rupees, or $1.6 billion, of Indian shares Thursday, their largest single-day net purchase in nearly six years.
Falling oil prices also provided support. India imports most of its crude requirements, making lower energy prices potentially beneficial for inflation, corporate costs and the country’s external balance.
Financial stocks led the weekly advance, gaining 10.4%. HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank recorded particularly strong performances, while Reliance Industries rose 13.3% following its quarterly results.
Despite the rebound, Indian benchmarks remained negative for 2026, underscoring the difference between a strong short-term recovery and a sustained improvement in annual performance.
Investors will now watch whether foreign buying continues, whether crude prices remain lower and whether improving corporate earnings support the market’s recent gains.
