Sensex climbed 324 points to 81,425 on Wednesday as smallcap stocks outperformed. Eight BSE smallcap firms, including HBL Engineering, Shaily Plastics, GMDC, Maharashtra Scooters, and Prime Focus, touched fresh 52-week highs, signaling bullish momentum and investor confidence.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached intraday record highs following encouraging producer inflation data, fueling expectations of Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts. Oracle s surge further propelled market gains. At the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a slight increase, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite saw more substantial rises.

Several NSE midcap stocks, including Nykaa, P&G Hygiene, FACT, Dixon, GE Vernova T&D, Colgate-Palmolive, and Page Industries, are trading significantly above book value, reflecting strong investor expectations, growth potential, or premium market valuations.

Oracle shares soared about 35% on Wednesday after the company pointed to a demand surge for its cloud services from AI firms, underscoring its deeper push into the backbone of artificial intelligence systems.

Markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday cancelled the registration of 18 investment advisers for failing to pay renewal fees, a statutory requirement under its regulations.

Oracle shares soared 41% on Nasdaq after unveiling an AI Center of Excellence for healthcare. The rally pushed year-to-date gains above 100% and lifted co-founder Larry Ellison past Elon Musk as the world’s richest man.

Sanjay H Parekh of Sohum Asset Managers expects short-term weakness in Indian equities but remains bullish long-term, projecting Nifty at 26,000–29,000. Strong fundamentals, domestic sector focus, and earnings recovery from FY26–27 support the outlook.

Bitcoin traded nearly flat around $111,500, consolidating in one of its tightest ranges in months with volatility at multi-month lows. Analysts expect a sharp move post-US Fed decision and September CPI data.

Infosys’ upcoming buyback proposal highlights why companies repurchase shares. Buybacks boost EPS, signal undervaluation, and stabilise stock prices. They return excess cash, offset ESOP dilution, and defend against hostile takeovers. Unlike dividends, they offer flexibility and can be tax-efficient. Investors view buybacks as confidence in fundamentals and growth.

Euro zone government bond yields eased on Wednesday as investors awaited U.S. inflation data that could help define the size of an expected Federal Reserve rate cut next week.