Sensex surges 1,500 points this week: 6 factors behind the relief rally

Both Brent and WTI crude oil rates slumped below the $100 barrel mark this week amid recession fears. Even as Brent crude was trading at $105 per barrel today, the global crude oil benchmark is set for a second straight weekly loss.

The prices of a number of metals and other commodities have softened in the last few days. Investors are hoping that this will cool down inflationary pressure on economies across the globe. “The present rally is driven partly by expectations that given the steady decline in commodity prices inflation will start showing a declining trend enabling central banks to go a bit slow on hiking rates, and partly by short-covering,” said Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

As the earnings season kicks off, a number of companies have released their quarterly sales figures. Jewellery makers like Titan and Kalyan and realty players have reported robust sales in Q1.

Prashanth Tapse, Vice President (Research), Mehta Equities, said also helping sentiments are reports that China is planning a $75 billion infrastructure fund to revive the economy. In recent weeks, China has unveiled a raft of economic support measures.

US stocks rallied for the fourth straight day on Thursday on optimism that the Federal Reserve will be able to curb inflation without tipping the economy into a recession. Fed officials are confident that plans to combat high inflation can avoid triggering an economic recession.

The spate of selling by FIIs have reduced this month. Foreign investors sold a net $373.31 million worth of Indian equities up till Thursday - the smallest outflow in five weeks - compared with net $556.13 million in the same period last week.