Indian markets ended higher on Thursday, with the Sensex rising 273 points and Nifty gaining 67 points driven by heavyweight stock strength and foreign fund inflows. Meanwhile, global gold demand for the second quarter of 2026 remained flat at 1,269 tonnes despite a 2% growth in demand for the first half of the year.
Indian equity markets maintained their positive momentum on Thursday, marking the second consecutive day of gains for both the BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty. Investor interest in large-cap companies helped push the indices higher, supported by continued investment from foreign institutional investors.
Blue-Chip Stocks Drive Index Gains
The BSE Sensex finished the session at 77,928.15, an increase of 273.55 points or 0.35%. Throughout the day, the index saw fluctuations between a high of 78,007.09 and a low of 77,440.91. The NSE Nifty similarly tracked upward, closing at 24,317.15 with a gain of 66.95 points or 0.28%. Significant support for the market came from heavyweight stocks such as Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, Maruti, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Power Grid Corporation. Conversely, the market saw selling pressure in other major stocks, including Adani Ports, InterGlobe Aviation, Bajaj Finserv, and Bharat Electronics, which ended the day in the red.
Global Gold Demand Trends
While equity markets responded to domestic and foreign institutional buying, the global gold market presented a different picture during the second quarter of 2026. Data from the World Gold Council indicated that total demand for the metal remained largely stable at 1,269 tonnes, compared to 1,268.6 tonnes in the same period last year. Analysts observe that while demand was flat for the quarter due to price stabilization after a previous surge, the broader performance for the first half of 2026 remained positive. Total gold demand for the first six months of the year reached 2,522 tonnes, representing a 2% year-on-year increase with an estimated valuation of USD 380 billion.
For investors, the current market trend highlights the influence of foreign capital flows and the performance of index-heavy companies on headline indices. Market participants may continue to watch the relationship between gold price trends and broader equity performance, as commodity price volatility can often influence domestic consumption and sentiment in specific sectors like jewelry and finance. Future updates from the World Gold Council and foreign fund activity will remain key points to track to understand the sustainability of the current market rally.