Nifty and Sensex Close in Green: Energy Sector Takes a Hit While Castings Shine
Indian stock market closed positively on October 21, with Nifty 50 up 0.10% at 25,843.15 and Sensex gaining 0.07% to 84,363.37. Castings, Forgings & Fasteners sector led gains at 2.89%, while Energy sector plummeted 12.95%. Axis Bank, Persistent Systems, and ICICI Lombard were among the buzzing stocks. Market breadth was positive with 3,333 advancing stocks out of 4,340 traded.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Market Overview
The Indian stock market concluded on a positive note on October 21, 2025, with both the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex registering modest gains. The Nifty 50 closed at 25,843.15, up 25.45 points or 0.10%, while the BSE Sensex ended at 84,363.37, gaining 62.97 points or 0.07%.
Sectoral Performance
The day's trading session witnessed a mixed bag of sectoral performances:
| Top Performing Sectors | Avg. % Change |
|---|---|
| Castings, Forgings & Fasteners | 2.89 |
| Printing & Stationery | 2.87 |
| Aerospace & Defense | 1.29 |
| Power | 1.19 |
| Top Losing Sectors | Avg. % Change |
|---|---|
| Energy | -12.95 |
| Commercial Services | -12.62 |
| Forest Materials | -10.35 |
| Leisure Services | -8.96 |
| Textiles | -8.81 |
The energy sector faced significant headwinds, while castings, forgings, and fasteners emerged as the day's top performer.
Buzzing Stocks
Several stocks made headlines during the trading session:
Axis Bank: The RBI approved Neeraj Gambhir's appointment as Executive Director for a three-year term, effective October 20, 2025.
Persistent Systems: Reported strong 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 the company implemented merit increments for all global employees.
ICICI Lombard General Insurance: Posted a 22.9% growth in H1 FY2026 profit after tax, reaching ₹15.67 billion. The company declared an interim dividend of ₹6.50 per share.
IT Sector: Infosys, LTIMindtree, and Wipro reported their Q2 results, with Infosys leading in revenue growth at 2.2% QoQ.
Market Breadth
The overall market sentiment leaned positive:
| Category | Number of Scrips |
|---|---|
| Total Traded | 4,340 |
| Positive | 3,333 |
| Negative | 1,007 |
Conclusion
The Indian stock market demonstrated resilience on October 21, 2025, with both benchmark indices closing in the green. While the energy sector faced challenges, castings and printing sectors showed strength. Key stocks like Axis Bank, Persistent Systems, and ICICI Lombard made notable moves, reflecting the dynamic nature of the market.
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