Indian equity markets began Friday’s session on a positive note, driven by buying interest in auto and metal stocks following encouraging sales data. The S&P BSE Sensex rose 172.34 points to 85,360.94, while the NSE Nifty50 advanced 44.10 points to 26,190.65 as of 9:26 am.

Market sentiment was supported by strong automobile sales, with passenger vehicle sales registering a 25.8% year-on-year increase in December. Commenting on the trend, Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments Limited, said the data reflects healthy growth momentum in the economy. He added that sustaining this growth, even at a slower pace, is crucial for long-term earnings expansion and market resilience.

On the gainers’ side, NTPC led the rally, rising 2.44%, followed by Trent (+1.87%), Bharat Electronics (+1.71%), Bajaj Finance (+1.54%), and Power Grid Corporation of India (+1.50%). These stocks helped support early gains in the broader market.

However, FMCG stocks continued to weigh on indices. ITC emerged as the biggest laggard, falling 3.97%, while UltraTech Cement slipped 0.49%. Bharti Airtel declined 0.24%, and Titan Company eased 0.16%. Shares of Godfrey Phillips India also remained under pressure in early trade.

Vijayakumar noted that while much of the positive news around the auto sector is already priced in, consumer durables could emerge as a potential outperformer going ahead. He said the benefits of interest rate cuts and GST reductions are yet to fully reflect in demand, making the segment attractive in the short term.