Markets at Noon: Sensex, Nifty Dip as Engineering and Defense Sectors Drag
By ScanX News Team
Indian markets are trading in negative territory at midday on May 20, 2025. The Nifty 50 is down 0.34% at 24,861.35, while the Sensex has fallen 0.39% to 81,736.77. Engineering Services and Aerospace & Defense sectors are the top losers, while Castings, Forgings & Fasteners and Transport Services lead the gainers. Buzzing stocks include Quess Corp (-8.49%) despite profit growth, and Pfizer (+11.77%) following an 85% jump in Q4 net profit. The market shows a mixed sectoral performance with select pharma and manufacturing stocks outperforming amidst overall weakness.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Market Overview
As of midday on May 20, 2025, Indian markets are trading in negative territory. The Nifty 50 is currently at 24,861.35, down 84.10 points or 0.34% from its previous close. Similarly, the BSE Sensex stands at 81,736.77, showing a decline of 322.65 points or 0.39%.
Sectoral Performance
The market is witnessing a mixed sectoral performance today:
Top Losing Sectors
| Sector | Change (%) |
|---|---|
| Engineering Services | -1.19% |
| Aerospace & Defense | -0.91% |
Top Performing Sectors
| Sector | Change (%) |
|---|---|
| Castings, Forgings & Fasteners | +1.20% |
| Transport Services | +0.99% |
| Utilities | +0.96% |
| Petroleum Products | +0.52% |
Buzzing Stocks
Several stocks are making headlines in today's trading session:
Quess Corp (LTP: ₹341.55, -8.49%): Despite reporting a 54% YoY increase in Q4 FY25 profit, the stock is facing selling pressure. The company announced a new dividend policy and strong growth in its Professional Staffing segment.
Protean eGov Technologies (LTP: ₹1,073.70, -6.08%): The stock hit the lower circuit after losing contention for the government's PAN 2.0 project. Equirus Securities downgraded the stock, citing potential revenue loss.
DOMS Industries (LTP: ₹2,635.00, -5.81%): The company reported a 7.2% YoY increase in Q4 FY2025 net profit and announced plans to acquire a 51% stake in Super Treads Pvt.
HLE Glascoat (LTP: ₹362.60, +19.99%): The stock surged after reporting a significant increase in Q4 consolidated net profit and revenue. The company also recommended a dividend of ₹1.10 per share.
ECOS (India) Mobility & Hospitality (LTP: ₹248.63, +12.68%): The company declared a dividend of ₹2.40 per share and reported stable Q4 results.
Pfizer (LTP: ₹4,994.00, +11.77%): The stock rallied after reporting an 85% jump in Q4 net profit and announcing a total dividend of ₹165 per share, its highest payout in 12 years.
Conclusion
The Indian markets are showing a slight downward trend at midday, with engineering and defense sectors weighing on the indices. However, select stocks in the pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors are witnessing strong gains on the back of positive quarterly results and dividend announcements.
