Markets at Noon: Nifty and Sensex Edge Higher as IT Sector Shows Signs of Recovery
Indian stock markets are showing a positive trend at midday, with Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex registering modest gains of 0.22% and 0.20% respectively. Castings, Forgings & Fasteners sector leads with 2.80% gain, while Commercial Services sector underperforms with a 23.10% decline. IT sector shows signs of recovery with Infosys leading the pack. Axis Bank, Persistent Systems, and ICICI Lombard General Insurance are among the buzzing stocks due to significant corporate announcements and results.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Market Overview
The Indian stock markets are showing a positive trend at midday on October 21, 2025, with both the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex registering modest gains.
| Index | Current Price | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 25,901.15 | 58.00 | 0.22% |
| BSE Sensex | 84,534.23 | 170.86 | 0.20% |
Sectoral Performance
The market is witnessing a mixed performance across sectors.
Top Performing Sectors
| Sector | Avg. % Change |
|---|---|
| Castings, Forgings & Fasteners | 2.80% |
| Printing & Stationery | 2.33% |
| Trading | 1.69% |
| Engineering Services | 1.53% |
Underperforming Sectors
| Sector | Avg. % Change |
|---|---|
| Commercial Services | -23.10% |
| Financial Services | -17.70% |
| Forest Materials | -17.69% |
| Textiles | -17.21% |
| Realty | -16.95% |
Buzzing Stocks
Axis Bank Ltd: The Reserve Bank of India has approved Neeraj Gambhir's appointment as Executive Director for a three-year term, effective October 20, 2025.
Persistent Systems Ltd: Reported Q2 FY26 results with revenue of $406.2 million, marking 4.2% QoQ and 17.6% YoY growth. EBIT margin improved to 16.3%, and PAT margin reached 13.2%.
Infosys Ltd: Led the IT sector with 2.2% quarterly revenue growth and 8% YoY earnings increase. The company raised its full-year growth guidance to 2-3%.
ICICI Lombard General Insurance: Reported a 22.9% growth in profit after tax to ₹15.67 billion for H1 FY2026. The company's Retail Health business showed growth of 25.2%.
Market Breadth
While specific market breadth data is not provided, the mixed sectoral performance suggests a balanced market with both gaining and losing stocks.
Conclusion
The Indian markets are showing resilience with slight gains in major indices. The IT sector appears to be recovering, with positive results from major players. However, several sectors, including Commercial Services and Financial Services, are facing significant pressure. Investors should keep a close watch on sector-specific trends and company performances as the trading day progresses.
17
