Equity benchmark indices traded in a narrow range on Sunday morning as investors remained cautious ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament later in the day. Market participants largely stayed on the sidelines, awaiting policy cues and fiscal signals that could shape the economic and market outlook for the coming year.
After opening on a positive note, the 30-share BSE Sensex pared its early gains and was trading 13 points higher at 82,282.82. Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty slipped 7.90 points to 25,312.75 after a marginally higher start, reflecting subdued sentiment across frontline stocks.
Buying interest was seen in select heavyweight counters. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries emerged as the top gainer on the Sensex, surging nearly 3 per cent after the company reported a 16 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to ₹3,369 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. The strong performance was driven by growth across multiple business segments, boosting investor confidence in the stock.
Other stocks supporting the indices included Bharat Electronics, Power Grid Corporation, NTPC and HDFC Bank, which were trading higher in early deals. Gains in these stocks, however, were capped by selling pressure in information technology and metal shares.
On the downside, Infosys, Tech Mahindra and Tata Steel were among the laggards, reflecting cautious positioning ahead of the Budget announcement. Shares of Eternal also traded lower in early trade, adding to the mixed market trend.
Market experts noted that the muted movement in equities underscores investors’ wait-and-watch approach, with expectations centred on announcements related to fiscal consolidation, capital expenditure, taxation and sector-specific incentives. The Union Budget 2026-27 is expected to set the tone for markets in the near term, particularly for infrastructure, manufacturing, banking and consumption-driven sectors.
As the Finance Minister prepares to deliver the Budget speech, volatility is expected to rise during and after the announcements, with stock-specific and sectoral reactions likely to dominate trading for the rest of the session.
