Stock market close At Sensex dips 182pts, Nifty at 24,751

Indian equity benchmarks closed the trading week lower on Friday as broad-based selling, led by critical sectors, hit them. Market mood was risk-averse throughout the session given persistent volatility and global trade tensions.

Market Performance 

The BSE Sensex ended the day at 81,451.01, down by 182.01 points, or 0.22 per cent. The index moved in a range on Friday, recording a high of 81,698.21 and a low of 81,286.45.

Likewise, the NSE Nifty50 closed lower, losing 82.90 points, or 0.33 per cent, to close at 24,750.70. The Nifty50 hit an intraday high of 24,863.95, whereas its low was marked at 24,717.40. Broader markets such as the Nifty Midcap100 and Nifty Smallcap100 indices also closed marginally lower, losing 0.06 per cent each.

Sectoral Trends

The majority of sectoral gauges closed in the red on Friday. The biggest fallers were sectors such as Nifty Metal, Nifty IT, and Nifty Auto. Selling pressure was witnessed across these sectors.

Public Sector Banks (PSBs) remained robust, with the Nifty PSU Bank index rising as much as 3 per cent. Frontline PSB stocks registered increases of as much as 4 per cent during intra-day trading in an otherwise lacklustre market.

US Tariff Developments' Influence

One of the main drivers behind the market's decline was the renewed uncertainty regarding US President Donald Trump's recent tariff actions. Global trade developments related to these possible tariffs left investors anxious.

This follows a US Appeals Court on Thursday reversing a lower court's decision that had temporarily halted the imposition of Trump's reciprocal tariffs. According to reports, officials could appeal the ruling to the US Supreme Court as early as Friday. Additionally, another report noted that the Trump administration is in the process of drawing up a 'Plan B' for tariffs. All these events brought about uncertainty and went a long way in fueling the risk appetite in the market.

Other Contributing Factors

Market participants were also interpreting the last set of corporate earnings for the quarter to March 2025 and waiting to see Q4FY25 GDP numbers released. Soft leads from Asian counterparts also helped the market trade in the red for the day. It was also reported that foreign investors were turning risk-averse to Indian equities, which could mean that the recent rally in the market may be running out of steam.

Overall, the market's performance today  was characterized by a defensive approach underpinned by a combination of global trade uncertainties, forthcoming economic data, and certain sectoral pressures.

Indian stock markets were lower, with both Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex falling under subdued investor sentiment in anticipation of significant economic data releases.

The BSE Sensex fell by about 228 points (0.28%) to 81,404.63, and the Nifty 50 fell about 65 points (0.26%) to 24,768.25. The decline was led mainly by a 1% fall in information technology shares, which rely significantly on U.S.-based revenue.

Investor wariness dominated before the release of India's Q4 GDP numbers, helping keep trading lukewarm. In spite of the present weakness, the Nifty 50 is poised for its third straight monthly rise on the back of robust institutional buying and corporate profits.

In sectoral performance, all the leading indices were in the red as Nifty Metal declined 1.5%, Nifty IT declined 0.96%, and Nifty Auto declined 0.96%. Some of the top stock movements were Bajaj Auto declining 2.3% even after a robust earnings report, and Ola Electric declining 6% after it predicted lower revenue and posting a higher March quarter loss. 

Investors are recommended to watch out for the coming economic indicators, such as the GDP figures and the policy stance of the Reserve Bank of India, which are likely to drive market direction in the short term.

Top  Gainers in the Market

• Eternal

• Opening Price: ₹226.56
• Current Market Price (LTP):236.57 
• Percentage Change: 3.59

Eternal is among the top gainers today due to bargain hunting or technical rebound after recent sharp declines sparked by MSCI and FTSE index weight cuts and foreign ownership limit changes, despite overall weak market sentiment.

• Apollo Hospital 

• Opening Price: ₹6950
• Current Market Price (LTP)6978.50 
• Percentage Change: 0.80

Apollo Hospitals is up today as investors anticipate strong quarterly results and healthcare sector momentum boosts overall sentiment. The company’s upcoming earnings announcement is drawing increased attention from market participants.

Top  Losers in the Market

• Bajaj Auto 

• Opening Price: ₹8787
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹8654.50
• Percentage Change: -2.48

Bajaj Auto is trading in the red due to concerns over market share loss in the domestic two-wheeler segment and margin pressures from rising input costs, despite a solid export recovery and stable quarterly earnings. 

• Hindalco

• Opening Price: ₹647.80
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹636.85
• Percentage Change: -2.02

Hindalco is trading lower today as falling metal prices and cautious investor sentiment across commodity-related sectors are impacting the stock. The company is also facing pressure from a general slowdown in global demand for base metals.

• NTCP

• Opening Price: ₹337.50
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹334.60
• Percentage Change: -1.40

NTPC is in the negative due to bearish technical indicators—such as trading below key moving averages—and weak short-term momentum in the broader power sector. Negative market sentiment and recent profit booking after its recent results have also contributed to the decline.

• M&M 

• Opening Price: ₹3005.00
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹2967.10
• Percentage Change: -1.39

M&M shares are trading lower today as broader market weakness and profit-taking after recent gains are impacting the stock. The negative sentiment across the sector is also contributing to the downward movement.

• Tech mahindra 

• Opening Price: ₹1595
• Current Market Price (LTP): ₹1579.00
• Percentage Change: -1.31

Tech Mahindra is down today due to negative price breakouts and broader weakness in the IT sector, with the stock trading below key support levels. Investor caution and sector-wide selling pressure have contributed to the decline.

Indian benchmark indices opened with a cautious tone, reflecting mixed global cues. The GIFT Nifty futures indicated a flat start, trading slightly higher at 24,947, suggesting a muted opening for the markets. At the pre-open session, the Sensex was down by 144 points at 81,488, while the Nifty 50 was marginally up by 1.70 points at 24,835.30. 

As of 9.20am, the Sensex opened  higher at 81685(up 0.01%), while the Nifty 50 opened at 24,850 (up 0.05%). This flat opening reflects mixed global cues and investor caution ahead of key economic data releases.

This subdued opening comes amid concerns over the reinstatement of U.S. tariffs and weak Asian market performance. Investors are advised to monitor key support levels for the Nifty at 24,700 and 24,650, as a breach below these could lead to further downside.

Global Cues & Market Performance

Asian markets largely declined after a US federal appeals court's temporary reinstatement of substantial tariffs imposed by previous US President Donald Trump. Japan's Nikkei index fell by 1.6 per cent, while South Korea's Kospi lost 0.5 per cent.

Wall Street closed marginally higher on Tuesday, following the release of data showing the US economy slowed down in the first quarter with GDP declining by 0.2 per cent. The S&P 500 index increased by 0.40 per cent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.28 per cent.

Currency and Commodities 

Indian rupee is trading at approximately ₹85.29 against the U.S. dollar, reflecting a slight appreciation from the previous day's close of ₹85.36. This modest strengthening is attributed to a decline in the U.S. dollar, following a U.S. court ruling that temporarily halted proposed tariffs, thereby easing global trade tensions.  The rupee's movement is supported by foreign portfolio inflows into Indian equities, although some outflows from the bond market have been observed.  The rupee will remain within a trading range of ₹85.00 to ₹85.80 in the near term, influenced by global economic factors and domestic market dynamics.

Gold prices in India have experienced a slight decline.Nationally, the average price for 24-carat gold stands at ₹97,540 per 10 grams, while 22-carat gold is priced at ₹89,347 per 10 grams.In Bengaluru, the rates are marginally lower, with 24-carat gold priced at ₹97,040 per 10 grams and 22-carat gold at ₹88,950 per 10 grams.These variations in gold prices across different cities can be attributed to factors such as local demand, taxes, and transportation costs.

Crude oil prices have declined due to weaker demand from China and potential U.S. sanctions on Russian crude. Brent crude closed at $63.89 per barrel, down 0.41%, while WTI fell 0.44% to $60.67 per barrel. Markets are awaiting OPEC decisions on output adjustments, contributing to a possible second weekly loss. In India, retail fuel prices remain steady, with petrol at ₹100.90 and diesel at ₹92.48 per litre in Chennai. These factors reflect ongoing global supply and geopolitical tensions affecting oil markets.

Stock to focus 

• Bajaj Auto: Q4 FY25 net profit fell 10.4% YoY to ₹1,802 crore, while revenue rose 8% to ₹12,204 crore.
  
  
• Ola Electric: Q4 net loss widened to ₹870 crore; revenue slumped 59.5% to ₹611 crore.
  
  
• Suzlon Energy: Q4 net profit surged to ₹1,181 crore; revenue jumped 73% to ₹3,774 crore.
  
  
• Samvardhana Motherson: Q4 net profit dropped 23% to ₹1,050 crore; revenue rose to ₹29,317 crore.
  
  
• Nuvama Wealth: Q4 net profit up 41% YoY to ₹255 crore; income rose to ₹1,125 crore.
  
  
• Wockhardt: Q4 net loss narrowed to ₹45 crore; revenue increased to ₹743 crore.
  
  
• Sobha: Q4 profit soared 482% YoY to ₹40.85 crore; revenue climbed 62% to ₹1,240.6 crore.
  
  
• Prestige Estates: Tied up with Valor Group for a ₹4,500 crore office project in Mumbai.
  
  
• Texmaco Rail: Won a ₹140.55 crore order for multipurpose wagons from Indian Railways.
  
  
• Sunteck Realty: Appointed as developer for ₹1,100 crore redevelopment project in Mumbai.
  
  
• Wipro: Launched global Wipro Innovation Network to drive co-innovation in AI and quantum tech.
  
  
• RVNL: Signed MoU with Texmaco Rail for joint railway infra and green tech development.
  
  
• NLC: Partnered with Mahatma Phule REITL to form a green energy-focused joint venture.
  
  
• UltraTech Cement: Acquired full ownership of Wonder WallCare, making it a subsidiary.
  
  

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