Nifty ends significantly higher amid Fed rate cut hopes

Indian equity benchmark -- Nifty -- ended significantly higher on Tuesday amid US fed rate cut hopes. Index made a slightly positive start tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. Soon, index extended gains and continued its firm trade in green terrain amid hopeful developments in India-US trade talks. Traders took some support with commerce ministry’s latest data showing that India's merchandise exports rose 6.71 per cent to $35.1 billion in August 2025 as compared to $32.89 billion in August 2024. In addition, the government data showed that the India’s unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above declined for the second month in a row in August, to 5.1%. The unemployment rate was 5.2% in July and 5.6% in both May and June. In afternoon session, index continued firm trade. Sentiments remained optimistic as Crisil’s latest report stated that banks' credit growth will accelerate in the second half of the fiscal year (H2FY26) and inch up to 12 per cent in FY26. In last leg of the trade, index intensified its gains and closed above 25,200 mark.Most of the sectorial indices ended in green except FMCG stocks. The top gainers from the F&O segment were Cyient, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company and GMR Airports. On the other hand, the top losers were Vodafone Idea, Godrej Consumer Products and RBL Bank. In the index option segment, maximum OI continues to be seen in the 25900 - 26100 calls and 24900 - 25100 puts indicating this is the trading range expectation.India Volatility Index (VIX), a gauge for market’s short-term expectation of volatility decreased by 1.20% and reached 10.27. The 50 share Nifty up by 169.90 point or 0.68% to settle at 25,239.10.Nifty September 2025 futures closed at 25351.10 (LTP) on Tuesday, at a premium of 112.00 points over spot closing of 25239.10, while Nifty October 2025 futures ended at 25468.90 (LTP), at a premium of 229.80 points over spot closing. Nifty September futures saw a contraction of 5,767 units, taking the total open interest (Contracts) to 2,16,296 units. The near month derivatives contract will expire on September 30, 2025. (Provisional)From the most active contracts, Kotak Mahindra Bank September 2025 futures traded at a premium of 3.10 points at 2026.60 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 2023.50. The numbers of contracts traded were 20,548. (Provisional)Reliance Industries September 2025 futures traded at a premium of 3.60 points at 1409.50 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1405.90. The numbers of contracts traded were 20,450. (Provisional)Tata Motors September 2025 futures traded at a premium of 1.45 points at 716.35 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 714.90. The numbers of contracts traded were 20,247. (Provisional)Infosys September 2025 futures traded at a premium of 4.70 points at 1518.20 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1513.50. The numbers of contracts traded were 20,009. (Provisional)Axis Bank September 2025 futures traded at a premium of 1.90 points at 1123.30 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1121.40. The numbers of contracts traded were 18,755. (Provisional)Among, Nifty calls, 25500 SP from the September month expiry was the most active call with a contraction of 2,899 units open interests. Among Nifty puts, 25000 SP from the September month expiry was the most active put with an addition of 19,956 units open interests. The maximum OI outstanding for Calls was at 26000 SP (69,756 units) and that for Puts was at 25000 SP (81,655 units). The respective Support and Resistance levels of Nifty are: Resistance 25310.18 -- Pivot Point 25190.32 -- Support 25119.23.The Nifty Put Call Ratio (PCR) finally stood at (1.17) for September month contract. The top five scrips with highest PCR on Canara Bank (1.10), Bajaj Finance (1.09), Hindustan Aeronautics (1.07), Petronet LNG (1.07) and National Aluminium Company (1.07).Among most active underlying Kotak Mahindra Bank witnessed an addition of 717 units of Open Interest in the September month future, Reliance Industries witnessed an addition of 2,885 units of Open Interest in the September month future, HDFC Bank witnessed an addition of 2,187 units of Open Interest in the September month futures, Axis Bank witnessed an addition of 2,981 units of Open Interest in the September month futures and Tata Motors witnessed an addition of 2,961 units of Open Interest in the September month futures. (Provisional).