Markets end higher as inflation cools to 6 year low in April

Equity indices rise as inflation eases, creating room for RBI rate cut; global trade tensions ease.

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) as retail inflation eased to a nearly six-year low of 3.16% in April, creating enough room for the RBI to go for another rate cut in the June monetary policy review.

A cooling U.S. April inflation data and a pause in global trade tensions added to the positive trend in the equity markets, traders said.

In a highly volatile trade, the 30-share BSE benchmark gauge Sensex climbed 182.34 points or 0.22% to settle at 81,330.56. The gauge hit a high of 81,691.87 and a low of 80,910.03.

The NSE Nifty rose 88.55 points or 0.36% to 24,666.90.

From the Sensex firms, Tata Steel, Eternal, Tech Mahindra, Maruti, Mahindra & Mahindra, Infosys, IndusInd Bank, HCL Tech, Tata Consultancy Services and Bharti Airtel were the major gainers.

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel climbed nearly 1% after it posted about a five-fold jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 11,022 crore in the March 2025 quarter, mainly due to the tariff hike impact and one-time gain on tax benefits.

However, Asian Paints, Tata Motors, Kotak Mahindra Bank, NTPC and Power Grid were among the laggards.