First Trade: Sensex gains over 130 pts, Nifty above 24,400; Tata Motors up 2%

Indian equities on the weekly expiry day opened higher in the backdrop of the ongoing Indo-Pak tensions. At the open, the BSE Sensex was higher by 133.18 points, or 0.16 per cent, at 80,879.96, and the Nifty50 was at 24,439.55, ahead by 25.15 points, or 0.1 per cent. 

Stocks in focus:

Voltas: Tata group’s consumer durable company posted better-than-expected financial performance for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. Net profit at the company grew 113 per cent on-year.

Coal India: The state-run mining company posted in-line results, with operational performance better than estimates

Asian Paints: Asian Paints will come up with its quarterly numbers later today. Consolidated profit at the paint company is seen declining over 15 per cent on-year.

Asian markets 

Asian stocks in Thursday’s session traded on a cautious note after the US Federal Reserve held its key rate steady and reiterated that it isn’t in a hurry to lower rates. The US central bank flagged the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation, further obscuring the economic outlook.

Following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a slew of tariffs last month, Fed officials have stated that they are comfortable maintaining rates at their current level until they have a better idea of the direction of the economy.