Foreign Investors Sell Indian Equities Worth Rs 2,468 Crore, Domestic Investors Buy Rs 2,262 Crore

Indian Equity Markets End Steady, Despite Slight Net FII Selling

Foreign investors net sold Rs 2,468 crore worth of Indian equities on April 29, marking the second consecutive day of net selling. Conversely, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) net bought shares worth Rs 2,262 crore, according to provisional exchange data. This divergence in investor sentiment is reflected in the trading data, where DIIs purchased shares worth Rs 17,232 crore and sold shares worth Rs 14,970 crore. In contrast, FIIs bought shares worth Rs 14,271 crore but sold shares totalling Rs 16,740 crore.

The year-to-date numbers paint a stark picture, with FIIs having been net sellers of shares worth Rs 2.28 lakh crore, while DIIs have net bought shares worth Rs 2.84 lakh crore.

Market Performance

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Indian equity markets ended on a broadly steady note on April 29, 2026, with gains capped by profit booking at higher levels. The BSE Sensex closed at 77,496.36, rising 609.45 points (0.79%), while the Nifty advanced 181.95 points (0.76%) to settle at 24,177.65. The Nifty Bank index remained largely unchanged, edging up just 3.25 points (0.01%) to 55,403.6, reflecting underlying weakness and a lack of sustained buying interest in banking stocks.

Market participants are bracing themselves for potential market volatility in the near term, as exit polls after the second phase of state elections are due later this evening. Investor sentiment will be influenced by these outcomes, while the final results next week are likely to add to market volatility on Monday. Additionally, elevated crude oil prices and the lack of clarity on US-Iran negotiations continue to remain key overhangs. The ongoing earnings season will further drive stock- and sector-specific action, with key results on Thursday from Bajaj Finserv, HUL, NSDL, Adani Enterprises and more.

Market Overhangs

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On the energy front, the uncertainty surrounding the west Asia conflict has intensified worries around inflation and external stability. The government has prepared a Cabinet note for a new urea investment policy aimed at bridging a supply gap of nearly 100 lakh tonnes and reducing import dependence.

On the macro front, India's industrial production (IIP) growth rose to 4.1% in March 2026 (vs 3.9% YoY), indicating a modest improvement in activity. Manufacturing and mining showed steady growth, while strong capital goods output (+14.6%) signalled healthy investment demand, even as consumer trends remained mixed. Looking forward, markets are likely to remain volatile and event-driven in the near term, with reactions to exit poll outcomes expected to guide sentiment ahead of the final election results next week. At the same time, the ongoing earnings season, elevated crude oil prices, currency movement and developments in US-Iran negotiations will continue to remain key overhangs.