Sensex and Nifty Closing Updates, March 13, 2025: Sensex and Nifty closed lower

Market Closing Overview

Indian equity indices closed lower on Thursday, March 13, 2025, after paring early gains that followed positive global cues and softer-than-expected inflation data in the U.S. and India.. The Sensex dropped by 201 points to settle below 73,900, while the Nifty ended below 22,400, down by 73.30 points. Realty and media sectors were the top drags, while PSU Banks gained. The advance-decline ratio favoured sellers.

Sectoral Performance

Most major sectors experienced declines, with auto, IT, metal, media, and realty sectors falling. The IT index had officially entered a bear market on Wednesday but saw some gains in the morning, rising 0.7%. Nifty Auto and Nifty Media stocks traded with cuts. Nifty PSU bank stocks, however, traded in green and closed with a 0.5% gain.

Top Gainers and Losers

In the Nifty 50, top gainers included Bharat Electronics (BEL), SBI, ICICI Bank, ONGC, and Larsen & Toubro. On the other hand, Shriram Finance, Hero MotoCorp, Hindalco, Wipro, HDFC Life, and Tata Motors were among the top losers. Shriram Fin and Paytm each dropped by 3%.

Global Market Influence

Asian equities initially gained on Thursday following cooler-than-expected U.S. inflation data, which helped Wall Street recover from previous losses. However, concerns about the economic impact of President Donald Trump's trade policies later weighed on markets, causing stocks in Asia to skid and gold to gain. European shares were flat amid looming global trade war concerns.

Domestic Economic Data

India's retail inflation fell below 4% in February, providing the central bank with potential room to lower rates further this year. U.S. consumer prices also rose moderately in February. India's industrial output (IIP) growth improved to 5.0% in January 2025, led by manufacturing and mining.

Key Stock Movements and News

Several companies experienced significant stock movements and news:

• BEL shares jumped after securing a ₹2,463 crore order from the Indian Air Force for Ashwini Radars.
• Gensol Engineering's board approved a 1:10 stock split and plans to raise up to $50 million, but its shares hit the lower circuit, down 5%, and have fallen significantly over the past few weeks due to financial stability concerns.
• Coromandel International acquired a 53% stake in NACL Industries for ₹820 crore and announced an open offer for an additional 26%. NACL Industries' shares went up by 10%, while Coromandel Intl's stock also gained.
• PB Fintech's stock plunged 10% in two days following plans for a ₹696 crore investment in its subsidiary.
• IndusInd Bank was in focus due to discrepancies in its derivative portfolio, estimated at ₹1,530 crore. The RBI is examining derivatives exposures of some banks, and IndusInd Bank's top executives had sold shares worth ₹157 crore in 2023 and 2024. CLSA downgraded its target price for the bank.
• LIC's stock was considered undervalued by Kotak Equities, which maintained a 'Buy' rating with a revised target price.
• Ambit Capital initiated coverage on ITC Hotels with a "buy" rating, citing strong free cash flow and margin expansion.
• Adani Group reportedly bagged a significant housing redevelopment deal .

Regulatory and Policy Updates

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is reportedly examining the derivatives positions of banks following the issues at IndusInd Bank and has asked IndusInd Bank's board to suggest external candidates for CEO and COO positions. The Tamil Nadu government's imposition of a limestone tax is expected to impact cement companies.

Market Outlook and Analysis

Analysts suggest that the recent cooling of inflation data could lead to an RBI rate cut in the upcoming policy meeting, potentially boosting market sentiment. However, global trade tensions and potential tariff impacts remain key concerns. Some analysts expect market consolidation to continue, with specific sectors like discretionary consumption, power, manufacturing, and renewables offering long-term potential.

 Fund Flow Activity

On March 12, 2025, Foreign Institutional Investors (FII/FPI) were net sellers in the cash market, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DII) were net buyers.

Mid-day Updates 

The BSE Sensex is down 44.55 points at 73,985.21, while the NSE Nifty quotes around 22,443.30, down 27.20 points. The broader indices remain in negative territory, with the BSE MidCap and SmallCap down around 0.20 per cent and 0.55 per cent respectively. Technically, the Nifty hovers just below its immediate resistance at the psychologically significant 22,500 mark, which emerges as a formidable hurdle. A convincing breakout beyond 22,550 could fuel a short-covering rally, says Dhupesh Dhameja, Derivatives Analyst at SAMCO Securities. Meanwhile, the market remains volatile in today’s trading session, influenced by the weekly Nifty expiry and the long weekend factor owing to the festival of ‘Holi’.

Top Gainers

• Bharat Electronics (BEL) registered the highest percentage gain of 1.97%, settling at ₹282.28. It also led by volume, with over 2.57 crore shares traded.
• Larsen & Toubro (L&T) rose 0.45% to ₹3,215.10, reflecting sustained interest in infrastructure and capital goods segments.
• ONGC gained 0.80% to finish at ₹156.45, mirroring steady demand in energy counters.
• ICICI Bank closed at ₹725.95, up 0.56%, commanding the highest turnover of ₹93,165.80 lakh.
• SBI climbed 0.73% to ₹726.00, with volumes crossing 1.45 crore shares.
• HDFC Bank added 0.50% to end at ₹1,643.55.

Overall, the session is showcasing a broad-based optimism, with key sectors maintaining incremental gains and robust turnover in several frontline counters.

Top Losers

• Shriram Finance (SHRIRAMFIN) recorded the highest trading volume of over 24.78 lakh shares. Despite robust activity, the stock slipped 2.35% to ₹622.00.
• Hindalco shed 2.30% to settle at ₹674.00, underlining weakness in the metal space. It registered a turnover of ₹13,471.89 lakh on volumes of around 19.49 lakh shares.
• Wipro lost 1.53% to end at ₹264.45, with around 15.04 lakh shares changing hands.
• BPCL declined 1.40% to ₹262.58, despite a healthy turnover of ₹14,050.22 lakh.
• Tata Motors, the auto major emerged as the only gainer, finishing 0.73% higher at ₹655.30 on volumes of 11 lakh shares. This uptick contrasted with broader selling pressure, highlighting selective investor interest.

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

To read the RA disclaimer, please click here.