Positive global cues and better-than-expected factory output numbers helped Indian shares end notably higher on Friday. The benchmark BSE Sensex closed up 144 points or 0.72 percent at 20,083, its highest closing level in nearly 3-1/2 months, after government data showed India's industrial output grew by 2.5 percent in March compared to a contraction of 2.8 percent in the year-ago period. The third straight month of increase after contraction in eight months last year helped boost investor sentiment.
The broader Nifty index jumped 45 points or 0.74 percent to 6,095, its highest level in 2013, while the BSE mid-cap and small-cap indexes posted relatively modest gains.
Maruti Suzuki led the gainers in the Nifty pack with a 4.4 percent rally after the Japanese yen hit a fresh four-year low versus the dollar and its parent Suzuki Motor posted a record net profit for the year ended March on the back of robust sales at home and continuing strength in fast-growing emerging markets in Asia.
Among other prominent gainers, HDFC Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, NMDC, Lupin, Hindalco, ACC, ITC, Tata Motors and IndusInd Bank rose 2-3 percent.
Among those that fell, Coal India tumbled 2 percent after the government approved 10 percent stake sale in the miner to raise over Rs 17,000 crore. UltraTech Cement, NTPC, PNB and Jindal Steel lost about 2 percent each.
Elsewhere, other Asian markets ended broadly higher, with Japan's Nikkei index rallying almost 3 percent to a five-year high after the yen breached the 100 yen to the US dollar mark for the first time since April 2009.
Seoul shares tumbled on renewed concerns over risks posed by a weakening yen, while stocks elsewhere posted modest gains, buoyed by positive U.S. jobless claims data.
European stocks were broadly higher in early trading after companies like ArcelorMittal and BT Group Plc. reported better-than-expected results and data showed German exports recovered as expected in March, boosting hopes of economic revival by the end of the first quarter.
Commodities, however, came under selling pressure on speculation the Federal Reserve could begin scaling back its monetary stimulus program.
In response to reporters' questions after a speech in New York, Fed president Charles Plosser said unemployment would probably fall to 7 percent at the end of 2013 and he would favor reducing the Fed's $85 billion monthly pace of bond purchases beginning as early as the next meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.
German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble also warned of "critical problems" from stimulus, saying countries must work together to "reduce global liquidity."
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Market Analysis
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.