Nifty and Sensex Close in Green, Energy Sector Faces Headwinds
Indian stock markets ended on a positive note with Nifty 50 at 25,868.60 (+0.09%) and Sensex at 84,426.34 (+0.15%). Energy sector was the top loser (-14.15%), while Castings, Forgings & Fasteners led gains (+4.04%). Reliance Industries, JSW Steel, RBL Bank, Infosys, and HUL were among the buzzing stocks. Market breadth was negative with 2,591 declining stocks vs 2,021 advancing out of 4,612 traded.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Market Overview
The Indian stock markets concluded on a positive note, with both benchmark indices showing marginal gains. The Nifty 50 closed at 25,868.60, up by 22.80 points or 0.09%, while the BSE Sensex ended at 84,426.34, gaining 130.06 points or 0.15%.
Sectoral Performance
The day saw mixed performance across sectors, with some facing significant headwinds while others showed resilience.
Top Losing Sectors
| Sector | Average Percentage Change |
|---|---|
| Energy | -14.15% |
| Commercial Services | -11.01% |
| Leisure Services | -7.05% |
| Logistics & Cargo | -6.84% |
Top Performing Sectors
| Sector | Average Percentage Change |
|---|---|
| Castings, Forgings & Fasteners | 4.04% |
| Trading | 1.03% |
| Oil & Gas | 0.44% |
Buzzing Stocks
Reliance Industries
Reliance Industries shares have gained 21% in the current year, marking their best calendar year performance since 2020. The stock has reclaimed the second position in Nifty 50 weightage at 8.4%, overtaking ICICI Bank. However, the company announced plans to significantly reduce its Russian oil imports in response to EU and US sanctions.
JSW Steel
JSW Steel's Co-CEO announced plans to begin construction of the company's Odisha steel plant within a year, actively searching for new iron ore mines to meet growing demand for raw materials.
RBL Bank
RBL Bank shares experienced profit booking, declining 3.3% to ₹313.9 after gaining nearly 12% following Emirates NBD's announcement to invest up to ₹26,853 crore for a 60% stake acquisition.
Infosys
Infosys shares surged nearly 5% to reach an intraday high of ₹1,546, with trading volumes three times the 20-day average. The rally was triggered by promoters choosing not to participate in the ₹18,000-crore share buyback.
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)
HUL has increased its EBITDA margin forecast to 23%-24%, up from the previous guidance of 22%-23%. The company anticipates that the second half of the fiscal year will deliver better performance compared to the first half.
Market Breadth
The overall market breadth leaned towards the negative side:
| Category | Number of Scrips |
|---|---|
| Total Scrips Traded | 4,612 |
| Positive Scrips | 2,021 |
| Negative Scrips | 2,591 |
Conclusion
Despite the positive closing for major indices, the market showed mixed signals with more stocks declining than advancing. The energy sector faced significant pressure, while castings, forgings & fasteners emerged as the top-performing sector. Investors should keep a close eye on individual stock movements and sector-specific trends in the coming sessions.
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