Market Update: Sensex and Nifty Edge Higher Amid Global Uncertainty, Sensex up by 187 points, Nifty by 41.70

The Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed higher on Tuesday, 22nd April 2025, despite weak global cues. The Sensex settled 187 points or 0.24% higher at 79,595.59, while the Nifty closed 41.70 points or 0.17% higher at 24,167.25 above the 24,000 mark. This positive movement was supported by the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) liquidity-boosting measures, which helped to offset the negative sentiment stemming from international markets.

Individual Stock Movements and Corporate News

Several individual stocks and corporate developments caught attention. Paytm's stock rose 0.16% after Paytm Money reduced interest rates. IndusInd Bank shares slipped 4.79% as the lender appointed EY for a fresh audit related to a discrepancy. Hindustan Unilever (HUL) shares were in focus after acquiring a significant stake in the parent company of skincare brand Minimalist. Coal India shares were also highlighted following a major power project deal. Eternal (Zomato) shares jumped 2.62% after a positive note from Goldman Sachs.

Global Headwinds and Asian Markets

Global markets experienced a turbulent session, with Asian stock markets struggling following a significant sell-off in U.S. assets that negatively impacted Wall Street and weakened the dollar. Concerns over the Federal Reserve's independence, fueled by ongoing criticism from the U.S. President Donald Trump towards Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, added pressure to U.S. Treasuries. Despite these headwinds, losses in Asia were relatively modest, leading to speculation about a potential shift of investor funds into the region's equities. However, worries regarding the negative impact of tariffs on economic growth persisted. Notably, China and Hong Kong stocks showed resilience, holding firm despite the Wall Street declines. Japan's Nikkei, however, ended lower.

RBI's Liquidity Measures and Bank Stocks

The RBI's actions played a crucial role in supporting the domestic market. The central bank's liquidity-boosting measures and the easing of final Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) norms provided relief to banks. This resulted in bank stocks jumping by up to 2%. Furthermore, the government extended the tenure of RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar by one year, until May 2026.

Sectoral Performance and Market Statistics

In terms of sectoral performance, the IT sector experienced a decline of 0.57%, while the realty sector showed strong gains of 2.42%. The advance-decline ratio in the market favoured buyers, indicating broader positive sentiment despite some sectoral variations. Notably, metal stocks surged by 3% following India's imposition of a 12% safeguard duty on select steel imports.

Commodity Markets: Gold Hits Record High

The commodity markets witnessed significant activity. Gold prices reached a fresh record high, crossing the ₹1 lakh (incl. GST) mark in retail trade and scaling a new peak of ₹99,178 per 10 grams on MCX. This surge was attributed to global uncertainty, a weak dollar, central bank buying, inflation fears, and festive demand. Oil prices also edged higher due to short-covering, although concerns about the impact of tariffs on fuel demand lingered.

Current Market Update

• The Sensex is up approximately 225.83 points, trading at 79,634.33, reflecting gains of about 0.28%.
• The Nifty 50 index is trading around 24,186.55, up about 61 points, or roughly 0.25%.

Top Gainers of the Market

1. Tata Consumer Products (TATACONSUM)

• Opening Price: ₹1,121.70
  
  
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹1,144.00
  
  
• % Change: +2.05%
  Goldman Sachs recently upgraded Tata Consumer Products to a "Buy" rating and raised its target price, signaling strong confidence in the company's future prospects. This positive sentiment can drive increased investor interest and buying activity.
  

2. Kotak Mahindra Bank (KOTAKBANK)

• Opening Price: ₹2,249.00
  
  
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹2,286.70
  
  
• % Change: +2.02%
  Kotak Mahindra Bank's share price increased today likely due to the positive impact of the RBI lifting restrictions on new customer onboarding and credit card issuance. This positive news, coupled with strong quarterly earnings and leadership changes, has boosted investor confidence and fueled the recent stock rally.
  

3. HDFC Bank (HDFCBANK)

• Opening Price: ₹1,935.00
  
  
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹1,961.30
  
  
• % Change: +1.77%
  HDFC Bank's shares saw a rise of 1.4% following the announcement of a 6.7% year-on-year increase in net profit for Q4 2025
  

4. State Bank of India (SBIN)

• Opening Price: ₹821.15
  
  
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹830.05
  
  
• % Change: +1.63%
  Brokerage firms like Citi have upgraded SBI, signaling a positive outlook for the company's future prospects. SBI has shown strong performance in recent quarters, with increased revenue, a decrease in gross and net NPA, and a reduction in credit costs.
  

5. Eternal (ZOMATO)

• Opening Price: ₹236.00
  
  
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹237.60
  
  
• % Change: +1.43%
  The shares of the company climbed 1.43%, as Goldman Sachs suggested “Buy” for the stock, with a target of ₹310.
  

Top Losers of the Market

1. IndusInd Bank (INDUSINDBK)

• Opening Price: ₹790.00
  
  
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹794.45
  
  
• % Change: -4.08%
  IndusInd Bank's share price declined today due to the announcement of discrepancies in its derivatives portfolio, which could impact its net worth by 2.35%. This revelation triggered investor concerns and a sharp drop in the stock price.
  

2. Hero MotoCorp (HEROMOTOCO)

• Opening Price: ₹3,901.00
  
  
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹3,833.50
  
  
• % Change: -2.13%

The company's domestic motorcycle and scooter sales were down significantly in December compared to the same period in 2023. Despite the domestic sales decline, exports increased sharply, potentially indicating a shift in focus or higher demand in export markets.

3. Infosys (INFY)

• Opening Price: ₹1,440.00
  
  
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹1,424.70
  
  
• % Change: -1.81%
  Infosys declined after tepid global IT demand and cautious outlooks from peers, impacting overall sector sentiment.
  

4. Bajaj Auto (BAJAJ-AUTO)

• Opening Price: ₹8,186.00
  
  
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹8,137.00
  
• % Change: -1.34%

Bajaj Auto's share price decline is likely due to a combination of factors, including disappointing quarterly results, concerns about margin pressure from new product launches, and a muted outlook for the festive season. Additionally, decreased domestic two-wheeler sales and lost market share in key segments have contributed to the negative sentiment

Market Open

The domestic markets opened on a high note. The Nifty 50 opened 59.85 points or 0.25% higher at 24,185.40 and the Sensex gained 319.89 points or 0.40% to open at 79,728.39. The Nifty Midcap 100 gained 206 points or 0.38% to open at 54,180.50. It followed cues from subdued Asian markets and overnight selling in the US markets.

Factors Influencing Market Sentiment

• Trump's criticism of Fed Chairperson: President Donald Trump put more pressure on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to reduce important lending rates, labeling him a "major loser" and threatening that the U.S. economy will weaken unless interest rates are reduced at once. "'Preemptive Cuts' in Interest Rates are being called for by many," Trump stated.
• US markets meltdown: The US markets shuddered again after Trump's tirade against Powell. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 971.82 points, or 2.48%, to close at 38,170.41. The S&P 500 declined by 2.36% to close at 5,158.20, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite lost 2.55% to close at 15,870.90.

Global Backdrop:

• US Dollar: The US Dollar Index (DXY), which assesses the dollar's strength in relation to a basket of six foreign currencies, fell 0.19% to 98.47 early on Tuesday morning. The index measures the relative strength or weakness of the US dollar against the major currencies. The basket includes currencies like the British Pound, Euro, Swedish Krona, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc, etc. The rupee went up 0.29% to settle at 85.13 against the dollar on April 21.

• Gold Rate Today: The gold is glowing brightly in the domestic market, nearing the Rs 1 lakh mark for 10 grams. The price of 24-carat gold today increased 4.18% from the previous week at Rs 97,560 for 10 grams, a new high. Gold's price has increased by 10.60% from the past one month. The rate of 22 kt gold today is Rs 89,430 for 10 grams. The 18-carat gold price today is Rs 73,170.

• Crude Oil: The oil prices of crude increased on Tuesday. WTI crude prices traded at $63.04, an increase of 1.02%, whereas Brent crude prices traded at $66.82, an increase of 0.88%, on Tuesday morning.

Stocks in Focus:

• Hindustan Unilever (HUL): Completed acquisition of 90% of Uprising Science for ₹2,706.44 crore.
• Coal India (with Damodar Valley Corporation): Plans a 1,600 MW coal‑fired extension (two 800 MW units) in Jharkhand; capex ₹16,500 crore.
• NTPC: Signed 300 MW PPA with Evren (Brookfield India) for firm, dispatchable renewable power (solar + wind + battery storage).
• Tata Power Renewable Energy: PPA with Tata Motors to develop a 131 MW wind‑solar hybrid plant (≈300 MU/yr).
• Prestige Estates Projects: Aims to double FY26 residential launches; FY25 launches totaled 26.28 mn sq ft (GDV ₹26,222.8 cr), Q4 FY25 alone 14 mn sq ft (GDV ₹16,133.8 cr).
• Vedanta: Promoter entity secured a $530 million facility, guaranteed by Vedanta Resources and Welter Trading.
• Gandhar Oil Refinery: MoU with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority to study a ₹1,000 crore terminal at Vadhavan Port (container, bulk, liquid cargo).
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders: Appointed Capt (retd) Jagmohan as CMD; term until retirement in September 2029.
• Tata Investment Corporation: Reported a 37.7% YoY fall in Q4 FY25 net profit to ₹37.7 crore, with a significant revenue drop.
• Anant Raj: Posted 51.5% YoY rise in net profit to ₹118.6 crore; revenue up 22.2%.
• Mahindra Logistics: Reported mixed results—standalone PAT at ₹13.12 crore (up 67% YoY), but another report shows a net loss of ₹6.75 crore for the same period.

Disclaimer: This news is solely for educational purposes. The securities/investments quoted here are not recommendatory.

To read the RA disclaimer, please click here