The key equity indices trade with moderate gains in morning trade as investor sentiment remained upbeat ahead of the Union Budget 2026. Market reflected cautious optimism, with participants keenly awaiting key policy measures. Beyond sectoral announcements, focus remains firmly on the government’s economic growth projections and the fiscal deficit numbers that would be laid out by the Central Government today. Nifty traded above 25,350 mark.

Auto shares witnessed buying demand for second consecutive trading session.

At 10:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex advanced 232.47 points or 0.28% to 82,497.42. The Nifty 50 index rose 49.20 points or 0.19% to 25,369.85.

The broader market underperformed the frontline indices. The BSE 150 Mid-Cap index fell 0.25% and the BSE 250 Small-Cap index declined 0.04%.

The market breadth was positive. On the BSE, 1,566 shares rose and 1,442 shares fell. A total of 164 shares were unchanged.

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of the market's expectation of volatility over the near term, jumped 3.31% to 14.09.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Auto index rose 0.90% to 26,991. The index jumped 1.64% in the past two consecutive trading sessions.

Hero MotoCorp (up 2.66%), Tube Investments of India (up 1.37%), Bajaj Auto (up 1.27%), Bharat Forge (up 1.26%) and Mahindra & Mahindra (up 1.21%), Maruti Suzuki India (up 0.96%), Sona BLW Precision Forgings (up 0.78%), Exide Industries (up 0.61%), Eicher Motors (up 0.6%) and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (up 0.39%) surged.

Stocks in Spotlight:

The New India Assurance Company rose 2.35% after reporting a consolidated net profit rise of 8.9% YoY to Rs 379.95 crore in Q3 FY26, compared with Rs 349.05 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Total income increased 14.2% YoY to Rs 12,234.97 crore in the quarter ended 31 December 2025.

Escorts Kubota advanced 2.18% after the company’s Agri Machinery Business in January 2026 sold 9,799 tractors registering a growth of 46.9% as against 6,669 tractors sold in January 2025.

Ashoka Buildcon added 2.79% after its consolidated net profit zoomed 222.59% to Rs to Rs 2,111.41 crore in Q3 FY26 as against Rs 654.50 crore posted in Q3 FY25. However, revenue from operations fell 23.47% YoY to Rs 1,827.33 crore in the quarter ended 31 December 2025.