Indian stock markets are higher on Friday following the pause in US tariffs for most nations, except China which faces a 145 per cent tariff rate. Buying was seen in index heavyweights including Tata Steel Ltd, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd, Bajaj Finserv LtdHDFC Bank Ltd, Reliance Industries Ltd. among others.

At 12:40 hours, the 30-share benchmark index was trading at 75374.53 up by 1527.38 points or by 2.07 % and then NSE Nifty was at 22,902.85 up by 503.70points or by 2.25%

Sensex touched intraday high of 75467.33 and intraday low of 74762.84 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 22468.7 and intraday low of 22353.25

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 133.95,+5.31%), Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Rs. 2120.45,+3.28%), Bajaj Finserv Ltd. (Rs. 1956.75,+3.18%), HDFC Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1817.00,+2.92%), Reliance Industries Ltd. (Rs. 1220.00,+2.90%), among others.

The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Asian Paints Ltd. (Rs. 2400.95,-0.36%), among others.

Metal index was at 27872.13 up by 1254.94 points or by 4.71%. Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Rs. 604.00,+7.03%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 133.95,+5.31%), JSW Steel Ltd. (Rs. 994.20,+5.07%), Coal India Ltd. (Rs. 391.15,+4.39%), Jindal Stainless Ltd. (Rs. 534.70,+4.37%),.

FMCG index was at 20140.11 down by 192.21 points or by 0.96%. Jyothy Labs Ltd. (Rs. 370.25,-2.48%), Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. (Rs. 1219.50,-1.77%), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Healthcare Ltd. (Rs. 13613.95,-1.52%), Dabur India Ltd. (Rs. 462.65,-0.63%), Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd. (Rs. 2493.05,-0.56%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4133 , shares advanced were 3178 while 780 shares declined and 175 were unchanged.