Sensex near record, metals drive gains

Indian equity markets ended on a strong note, with the Sensex closing at 81,207 and the Nifty at 24,894. Gains were led by metal, PSU banking, and consumer durable stocks, attracting fresh buying interest from both retail and institutional investors. Realty counters saw mild profit booking but remained stable overall. Investor confidence was further supported by the RBI’s steady interest rate stance and better-than-expected sectoral earnings. Mid-cap and small-cap indices continued to outperform, reflecting healthy risk appetite across the broader market.