Indian equity benchmarks Nifty and Sensex reached new record highs on Friday, with the Nifty50 closing above 26,328 and the Sensex nearing its peak. This surge was driven by broad-based sectoral participation, particularly in energy, realty, and metal stocks, fueled by optimism over strong third-quarter corporate earnings and positive sector-specific developments. Analysts cite robust auto sales and an improving demand outlook as key supporting factors, while also noting cautious sentiment indicated by a rising Volatility Index.