India’s benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed marginally higher on Monday, gaining 0.09% and 0.13% respectively, driven by strong performances in auto and consumer discretionary stocks and positive global cues.

The BSE Sensex rose 76.54 points to 80,787.30, while the NSE Nifty climbed 32.15 points to 24,773.15, despite late-session profit-taking in IT and FMCG sectors. Tata Motors led Sensex gains with a 3.97% surge, followed by Mahindra & Mahindra (3.96%), Maruti, Adani Ports, Bajaj Finance, and UltraTech Cement.

However, Trent (-3.81%), Asian Paints, HCL Tech, and TCS dragged the index down. Sectorally, auto stocks soared 3.12%, buoyed by GST rate cut expectations boosting demand, while consumer discretionary and telecom rose 1.13% and 0.71%. IT and teck indices fell 0.80% and 0.71%, reflecting global uncertainties.

Vinod Nair of Geojit Investments noted, “Auto stocks rallied on GST relief hopes, but IT faced pressure amid global volatility.” Ajit Mishra from Religare Broking added that dovish US Federal Reserve signals, following a weak US jobs report (22,000 jobs added, unemployment at 4.3%), fueled expectations of a September rate cut, lifting global sentiment.

Asian markets like Nikkei and Kospi closed higher, while European bourses traded positively. FIIs sold ₹1,304.91 crore worth of equities, offset by DII purchases of ₹1,821.23 crore, per exchange data.