The Indian stock market continued to trade higher for the second consecutive session on Tuesday, October 6, led by strong gains in private‑sector banks, pharma, FMCG and oil‑and‑gas stocks. Consumer‑focused company shares rallied after reporting robust quarterly business updates at the end of the September quarter, signalling a broader improvement in demand across discretionary categories and organised retail ahead of the festive season. Investors remained optimistic following positive global cues and easing crude oil prices, which helped sustain the upward momentum.

At 2:25 PM, the S&P BSE SENSEX was trading 526.91 points, or 0.73 %, higher at the 72,909.38 level, while the NSE’s NIFTY50 was trading at the 22,707.20 level, jumping 151.45 points, or 0.67 %. The gains reflected the market’s confidence in the sectoral strength and the positive sentiment generated by the latest corporate earnings releases.

The World Bank on Tuesday raised its forecast for India’s economic growth by 0.5 percentage points to 7.1 %, citing continued strength in industrial and services activity and the impact of structural reforms. In its latest South Asia Economic Update, the World Bank projected India’s growth at 7.8 % in 2025‑26, up from 7.2 % in 2024‑25, and expects growth to edge up to 7.2 % in 2027‑28.

Consumer‑focused company stocks rallied on reporting strong quarterly business updates at the end of September quarter, indicating a broader improvement in demand across discretionary categories and organised retail ahead of the festive season, analysts noted. The list of stocks that hit all‑time highs on Tuesday, sourced from the National Stock Exchange, includes Aether Industries and BHEL. Aether Industries’ gain followed the dropping of a ₹4.26 crore demand and show‑cause notice by the CGST & Central Excise Commissionerate, with the firm affirming that the tax credit used for its IPO expenses was fair and legitimate, posing no financial implications.

BHEL shares hit a fresh all‑time high on Tuesday after posting a healthy Q1 performance supported by an increase in segmental revenue from its power and industry businesses, which fuelled the overall revenue from core operations in the period under review. With a strong order book and continued opportunity momentum, the company aims to focus on execution strategies to improve its overall margins in the upcoming period. In its investors’ presentation for Q1 FY27, BHEL’s management highlighted that nuclear, coal gasification and green hydrogen will become the next engines of growth, and that India’s infrastructure and energy expansion will create large and durable demand opportunities for the company.