Indian equity markets opened higher on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty gaining ground amid continued foreign institutional investor (FII) buying and a decline in international crude oil prices.
The positive opening followed a strong rally in the previous trading session, as investors responded to foreign capital inflows, encouraging corporate earnings and improving sentiment around energy costs.
The movement also came despite mixed trends across other major Asian markets, indicating that domestic investment flows and economic factors were supporting Indian equities.
Sensex Advances 166 Points, Nifty Crosses 25,300
The 30-share BSE Sensex gained 166.44 points to reach 82,013.58 during early trading on Thursday. Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty 50 advanced 55.65 points to 25,316.55.
Among the major Sensex gainers were:
Bajaj Finance
Bajaj Finserv
ITC
Eternal
State Bank of India
ICICI Bank
However, some heavyweight stocks traded lower. Mahindra & Mahindra, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, UltraTech Cement and Hindustan Unilever were among the notable laggards.
The mixed performance across sectors reflected differing investor responses to individual company and industry developments.
Foreign Institutional Investors Drive Market Momentum
Foreign institutional investors remained a major source of support for Indian equities.
According to exchange data, FIIs purchased shares worth ₹12,563.33 crore on Wednesday, November 11.
V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments Ltd., said the Nifty had gained approximately 9.55% during November so far, with aggressive foreign investor buying playing a significant role in the rally.
He also noted that foreign investors had invested ₹65,735 crore in Indian equities during the month up to the reporting date.
The scale of these inflows has strengthened market sentiment and contributed to the recent upward movement in benchmark indices.
Lower Crude Oil Prices Provide Additional Support
Crude oil prices were another important factor influencing investor sentiment.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, declined 1.12% to $91.75 per barrel during the reported session.
Lower oil prices can provide relief to countries such as India, which depend significantly on imported crude to meet domestic energy requirements. A sustained decline may help ease pressure on the import bill, inflation and costs for businesses that rely on petroleum-based inputs.
Vijayakumar described crude prices around $92 per barrel as a supportive macroeconomic factor for the ongoing market rally.
However, the impact of oil prices on the broader economy also depends on exchange rates, global supply conditions and the duration of the price movement.
Corporate Earnings Add to Investor Confidence
The market strategist also pointed to encouraging second-quarter corporate earnings as another factor supporting equities.
Stronger earnings growth can improve expectations around company profitability and future business performance. When combined with foreign investment inflows and relatively lower energy costs, positive earnings results may contribute to improved investor confidence.
Vijayakumar said these factors could help sustain the market's upward momentum, although his assessment represents a market outlook rather than a guaranteed future outcome.
Asian Markets Show Mixed Performance
Indian equities moved higher even as several major Asian indices traded in negative territory.
South Korea's Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng were trading lower during the session. In contrast, China's Shanghai SSE Composite was quoted higher.
The mixed performance indicated that regional market sentiment was not uniformly positive.
Meanwhile, US markets had ended Wednesday's session with gains. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.60%, the S&P 500 climbed 1.31%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.49%.
Previous Session's Rally Sets a Positive Tone
Indian markets had already recorded substantial gains on Wednesday, November 11.
The Sensex rose 772.75 points, or 0.95%, to close at 81,879.40. The closing level was its highest since February 26, according to the report.
The Nifty gained 210.40 points, or 0.84%, to finish at 25,255.05, marking its highest close in nearly nine months.
The continuation of gains in Thursday's early session reflected the positive momentum established during the previous trading day.
What Investors Will Be Watching Next
The latest market movement highlights the combined influence of foreign investment flows, crude oil prices, corporate earnings and international market trends on Indian equities.
Investors will likely continue monitoring FII activity, global energy prices and upcoming corporate results to assess whether the current rally can maintain its momentum.
For businesses and market participants, changing financial conditions also make it important to evaluate capital allocation, financial exposure and broader market risks. Professional strategic advisory services can support informed business planning and financial decision-making.
Although the early gains reflect positive sentiment, market movements remain sensitive to domestic and international developments.