<h1>Equity benchmarks rise on US rate cut hopes and India-US trade optimism amid mixed institutional flows and reforms</h1> Equity benchmarks opened higher, with the benchmark indices up amid Asian market gains, expectations of an imminent US interest-rate cut, and optimism over a prospective India-US trade agreement; market breadth showed several listed firms advancing while others lagged. Institutional flows recorded net foreign outflows and significant domestic institutional purchases the prior day. Commentators attributed momentum to recent domestic tax and regulatory reforms supporting macro resilience. Crude oil prices dipped marginally. The report highlights market-sensitivity to central bank policy, bilateral trade negotiations and institutional investor activity as legal and regulatory risk factors for market participants.