Bank Nifty on Friday hit a record high of 60,152.35 before settling at 60,150.95, with the Nifty PSU Bank index climbing 1.08 per cent and Nifty Private Bank advancing 0.56 per cent.
Both public and private bank indices reached record highs on an intra-day basis. The Bank Nifty’s previous high was 60,114.30, recorded on December 1, 2025. Analysts attribute the new wave of momentum to lenders’ encouraging business updates in the December quarter.
Best Performers
Yes Bank emerged as the biggest gainer, rising more than 3 per cent to close at Rs 22.15 on the back of its inclusion in the Bank Nifty index on December 31, which triggered investor enthusiasm. Union Bank of India rose 2.09 per cent, and IndusInd Bank gained 1.39 per cent. Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank, and Bank of Baroda also registered gains of up to 1 per cent. Out of the 14 companies that form the Bank Nifty index, 13 ended higher. Axis Bank was the only stock to close in negative territory.
Outlook for Future
This was the fourth consecutive session of gains for Bank Nifty, with overall growth of about 4 per cent. SBI Securities said Bank Nifty has given a breakout of the falling channel on the daily chart, signalling a bullish shift in momentum. A breakout and sustained move above 60,000 may trigger short-covering, pushing the index towards 60,550-60,600. However, a breakdown below 59,100 could lead to a decline towards the 58,750-58,700 zone. Analysts pointed out that levels between 59,200 and 59,100 will act as the crucial support zones.
Strong business updates drive optimism
The rally was fuelled by positive business updates from banks for the third quarter. Lenders across categories – large private banks, mid-sized banks, regional banks, and small finance banks – reported that loan growth is picking up, a sign of confidence in the economy and in their own financial strength.
Banks said their balance sheets are stronger than before and that they are actively expanding lending activities. As per a recent report by the Reserve Bank of India, the overall quality of bank assets is expected to improve to levels not seen in decades.
Among individual lenders, Indian Bank reported numbers better than its earlier guidance. Punjab and Sind Bank’s performance matched expectations. South Indian Bank, however, delivered a mixed update, with some areas showing progress while others lagged.