Sensex and Nifty ends its seven-day winning streak: Sensex down by 729 points, Nifty by 181.05 points

On March 26, 2025, the Indian stock markets experienced a downturn, ending a seven-day winning streak. The BSE Sensex closed at 77,228.28, down 1.01%, while the Nifty 50 settled at 23,486.85, a decline of 0.77%.

Market Wrap-Up

The BSE Sensex concluded the session with a modest gain, while the NSE Nifty 50 closed in the red. The markets swung between gains and losses throughout the day as traders assessed global economic data and monitored sectoral performances.

Key Highlights

• Global IT Stocks in Focus: Indian IT stocks, including Infosys and Wipro, were closely watched for their activity on the global stage. The stocks saw downward pressure as a reaction.

Top Gainers:

• Sun Pharma: Led the gains as healthcare stocks remained in focus due to strong demand, up 2.87%. The stock closed at ₹1,657.70.
• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL): Gained on optimism surrounding defense contracts, up 2.23%. The stock closed at ₹276.87.
• BPCL: Benefitted from stable crude oil prices, up 2.13%. The stock closed at ₹262.40.
• Trent: Advanced amid strong retail demand, up 1.94%.
• ICICI Bank: Climbed, supported by robust financial performance, up 1.92%.

Top Losers:

• IndusInd Bank: Plunged amid concerns over its derivative portfolio, down 23.01%. The stock closed at ₹693.30.
• Infosys: Faced pressure, down 2.94%.
• Wipro: Was dragged down by the overall IT sector slump, down 2.08%.
• Bajaj Finserv: Experienced profit-booking, down 2.06%.
• Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M): Declined due to various factors, down 1.80%.

Market Outlook

The recent rally, which saw benchmarks add 5.7% over seven sessions, was halted as investors adopted a wait-and-see approach amid global trade uncertainties. Analysts suggest that while the major part of the market damage may be over, near-term volatility is expected to persist. Despite global uncertainties, the Indian stock market has showcased resilience, driven by positive domestic economic indicators and sustained foreign institutional inflows. Investors are advised to remain cautious and monitor global developments. Sectoral performance saw significant movement, influenced by current market conditions.

Mid-day Updates

As of 12:00 PM IST on March 26, 2025, the Indian stock markets exhibited slight fluctuations. The BSE Sensex experienced a modest decline, slipping over 300 points, trading at approximately 77,680.55, while the NSE Nifty 50 is down by 71 points at 23,675. Investors are closely monitoring developments related to impending U.S. tariffs, which are contributing to the market's cautious stance.

Top Gainers

1. IndusInd Bank (INDUSINDBK)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹637.40
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹660.10
  
  
• Percentage Change: +3.62%

IndusInd Bank was the top gainer, witnessing a strong rise of 3.62%. The banking sector showed resilience, and positive investor sentiment contributed to the stock's growth.

1. Trent Ltd. (TRENT)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹5,205.00
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹5,263.00
  
  
• Percentage Change: +1.50%
  
  

Trent, a leading retail player, continued its upward momentum, backed by positive financial performance and expanding retail presence.

1. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹2,751.30
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹2,776.00
  
  
• Percentage Change: +1.46%
  
  

The rise in M&M’s stock price indicates strong demand in the automobile sector, particularly in the SUV and electric vehicle segments.

1. Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹301.07
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹303.19
  
  
• Percentage Change: +1.06%
  
  

The PSU defense stock gained as investors showed confidence in the government’s push towards indigenous defense manufacturing.

1. Adani Ports (ADANIPORTS)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹1,183.00
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹1,194.65
  
  
• Percentage Change: +1.03%
  
  

Adani Ports saw a moderate rise, indicating steady growth in the logistics and infrastructure sector.

1. Adani Enterprises (ADANIENT)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹2,324.90
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹2,343.05
  
  
• Percentage Change: +0.83%
  
  

The conglomerate’s strong expansion plans and recent investments helped drive the stock up.

1. Power Grid Corporation (POWERGRID)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹291.70
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹293.75
  
  
• Percentage Change: +0.98%
  
  

The stock performed well as power infrastructure remains a key focus area for government investments.

1. Grasim Industries (GRASIM)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹2,582.95
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹2,591.80
  
  
• Percentage Change: +0.73%
  
  

Grasim’s growth in the chemicals and textiles sector continues to attract investors.

1. Hindalco Industries (HINDALCO)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹695.00
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹698.50
  
  
• Percentage Change: +0.73%
  
  

Rising aluminum prices and strong global demand supported Hindalco’s stock.

1. HCL Technologies (HCLTECH)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹1,624.90
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹1,634.75
  
  
• Percentage Change: +0.61%
  
  

The IT sector continues to see stable performance, with HCL Tech benefiting from digital transformation trends.

These stocks showed strong upward movement, reflecting positive investor sentiment and growth prospects across banking, retail, automobile, infrastructure, and technology sectors.

Top Losers of the Market

1. Tech Mahindra (TECHM)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹1,464.00
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹1,426.40
  
  
• Percentage Change: -2.00%
  
  

Tech Mahindra led the losses in the IT sector, possibly due to weak global tech demand or concerns over revenue growth.

1. NTPC
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹366.95
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹359.65
  
  
• Percentage Change: -1.99%
  
  

The power sector stock declined, possibly due to concerns over fuel costs or regulatory uncertainties.

1. Cipla (CIPLA)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹1,507.00
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹1,492.00
  
  
• Percentage Change: -1.27%
  
  

The pharmaceutical giant faced selling pressure, which could be due to profit booking or concerns over drug pricing policies.

1. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (DRREDDY)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹1,177.90
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹1,163.15
  
  
• Percentage Change: -1.25%
  
  

The pharma stock fell amid global healthcare market fluctuations and uncertainty around upcoming earnings.

1. SBI Life Insurance (SBILIFE)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹1,564.30
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹1,539.30
  
  
• Percentage Change: -1.15%
  
  

Insurance stocks saw a dip, possibly due to concerns about premium growth and regulatory impacts.

1. Tata Consumer Products (TATACONSUM)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹975.00
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹959.60
  
  
• Percentage Change: -1.03%
  
  

The FMCG giant saw a decline, likely due to concerns over rising raw material costs affecting margins.

1. Axis Bank (AXISBANK)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹1,115.00
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹1,106.20
  
  
• Percentage Change: -1.10%
  
  

Banking stocks remained under pressure, with Axis Bank facing slight weakness due to market-wide profit booking.

1. Kotak Mahindra Bank (KOTAKBANK)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹2,175.00
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹2,148.75
  
  
• Percentage Change: -0.99%
  
  

Kotak Bank saw a decline as investors adjusted portfolios ahead of key economic announcements.

1. Bajaj Finance (BAJFINANCE)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹9,102.05
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹8,980.75
  
  
• Percentage Change: -0.98%
  
  

NBFC stocks faced pressure due to rising interest rate concerns, affecting lending businesses.

1. Sun Pharma (SUNPHARMA)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹1,767.95
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹1,750.00
  
  
• Percentage Change: -0.84%

Pharma stocks saw a minor correction, with Sun Pharma experiencing moderate losses amid market volatility.

1. Maruti Suzuki (MARUTI)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹11,807.00
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹11,796.25
  
  
• Percentage Change: -0.90%
  
  

Auto giant Maruti Suzuki dipped slightly, possibly due to supply chain concerns or cost pressures.

1. Infosys (INFY)
   
   
• Opening Price: ₹1,626.00
  
  
• Closing Price (LTP): ₹1,619.25
  
  
• Percentage Change: -0.56%
  
  

Infosys saw a minor dip, reflecting the overall sluggish performance of the IT sector.

Market Overview

The IT, banking, and pharma sectors contributed to today’s losses, while investors reacted to global cues, profit booking, and sectoral challenges.

Market Open

Amid positive global cues, the Indian benchmark equity indices, BSE Sensex and Nifty50 opened flat Today. Asian indices began the day buoyant in the back of a turnaround on Wall Street, where US stocks climbed for a second straight day on Tuesday. Reportedly, this rebound in US markets is caused by expectations for US tariffs to be less severe than feared. But, April 2nd was when tit-for-tat tariffs were assigned and traders are still observing the possibility of such tariffs. Despite the above concerns, a sense of resilience seems to have swept over the market, possibly indicative of an anticipation of less stringent tariffs or even a bilateral agreement between the US and India.

At 9:28 AM, the S&P BSE SENSEX was up 109.21 points, or 0.14%, at the 78,126.40 level, while NSE’s NIFTY50 was at the 23,718.75 level, rising 50.10 points, or 0.21%. 

Factors Influencing Market Sentiment

A notable reason behind the present strengthening of the market is the comeback of foreign institutional investors (FIIs) as net buyers for the fourth straight session. The same comes as a significant reversal after five months of net selling on the cash market, barring March, when outflows had crossed ₹3 lakh crore. Investors would also be aided by the latest FII buying worth ₹19,136 crore, which has been witnessed in the last four days, which suggests that this trend is likely to continue and provide some fundamental support for the markets, in addition to the positives IMHO in improving macroeconomic indicators for India.

Global Backdrop:

• US Dollar: The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the dollar against a basket of six major currencies, stood at 104.33 on Wednesday morning. This index measures how strong or weak the US dollar is relative to other major currencies. On March 25, the rupee settled at 85.55 to the dollar.

• Gold Rates: As per Goodreturns, on 25 March, the price of 24-carat gold was ₹89,783, and the rate of 22-carat gold was ₹82,313 per 10 grams. Meanwhile, the price of 18-carat gold was ₹66,990 per 10 grams.

• Crude Oil: The price of crude oil on Wednesday (March 26), WTI crude oil futures rose above $69 per barrel, fueled by supply concerns and a sharper-than-expected drop in US crude inventories. Brent Crude also inched slightly higher on Wednesday morning at $72.56.

Stocks in Focus:

• NCC secured two work orders from BSNL valued at ₹10,804.6 crore for the BharatNet project.
• Welspun Enterprises' subsidiary secured a ₹328.12 crore order from BMC and a 15-year operation and maintenance project.
• Waaree Renewable Technologies received a ₹232.3 crore EPC project for a solar power plant, and Waaree Energies will start a 5.4 GW solar cell plant.
• Prism Johnson was declared the preferred bidder for limestone block mining leases by the Madhya Pradesh government.
• SIS announced a share buyback of up to 37.12 lakh shares for ₹150 crore at ₹404 per share.
• Ashoka Buildcon received CCI approval for the acquisition of 100% equity in 11 road SPVs.
• Advait Energy Transitions was selected as the L1 bidder for a Power Grid Corporation of India contract.
• Maruti Suzuki India received a draft assessment order proposing additions/disallowances of ₹2,966 crore for FY22 and will file objections.
• TVS Motor Company was served with an income tax demand order of ₹558.96 crore for AY 2023-24, which it intends to appeal.
• Indian Overseas Bank received an income tax demand order worth ₹558.96 crore for AY 2023-24 and will file an appeal.
• Redington received an order from the Income Tax Department raising a demand of ₹175.10 crore.
• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) approved a ₹3,300 crore investment in ONGC Green to acquire Ayana Renewable Power.
• Siemens India's energy business demerger into Siemens Energy India was sanctioned by NCLT Mumbai, effective 1st March 2025.
• Brainbees Solutions (Firstcry)'s board approved fund infusions into its subsidiaries Globalbees Brands and Firstcry Management DWC LLC.
• TVS Motor's Singaporean subsidiary will acquire an additional stake in GO Corporation, Switzerland.
• Jyothy Labs divested its entire stake in Jyothy Kallol Bangladesh (JKBL).

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