India, Nov. 17 -- Equity markets opened on a soft note but managed to recover through the day, supported by political stability after the NDA's win in Bihar. Despite early weakness and continued foreign investor selling, both major indices held above key technical support levels and closed slightly higher. Momentum indicators stayed in the healthy zone, reflecting steady strength without entering overheated territory, even as broader sentiment remained cautious due to weak global cues.

Defence and public-sector banking stocks led the gains, with several companies in these segments showing strong upward moves. In contrast, technology and metal shares faced pressure, mirroring the subdued mood across Asian markets where major indices ended...