Indian equities extended their rally on Tuesday. The Nifty 50 crossed the 25,000 mark intraday and settled just below it, while the BSE Sensex added over 370 points. The gains were led by autos, energy and select new‑age technology stocks amid optimism that a proposed GST reduction could spur consumption. Broader indices outperformed—Nifty Midcap 100 advanced ~1 % and Nifty Smallcap 100 added ~0.7 %. Positive global cues and a decline in crude oil supported sentiment, but profit‑booking in pharma and financials capped gains.
Key Indian indices (19 Aug 2025 close)
| Index | Closing value | Daily change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24 980.65 | ▲ 0.42 % |
| BSE Sensex | 81 644.39 | ▲ 0.46 % |
| Nifty Bank | 55 865.15 | ▲ 0.23 % |
| Nifty Midcap 100 | – | ▲ ~1 % |
| Nifty Smallcap 100 | – | ▲ ~0.70 % |
| India VIX | ~11.7 | ▼ around 1 % (low volatility) |
Nifty 50 – top gainers and losers
| Top gainers | LTP (₹) | Change | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tata Motors | 700.50 | ▲ 3.62 % | Auto stocks rallied on reports of easing Chinese rare‑earth magnet export restrictions. |
| Adani Ports & SEZ | 1 370.00 | ▲ 3.22 % | Continued buying after recent correction. |
| Reliance Industries | 1 421.00 | ▲ 2.84 % | Gains driven by optimism around Jio tariff revisions and FMCG business expansion. |
| Hero MotoCorp | 5 116.80 | ▲ 2.66 % | Benefited from auto demand optimism. |
| Bajaj Auto | 8 771.00 | ▲ 2.12 % | Momentum in two‑wheeler segment. |
| Top losers | LTP (₹) | Change | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Reddy’s Labs | 1 245.00 | ▼ 1.40 % | Pharma stocks saw profit‑taking after recent gains. |
| Cipla | 1 547.20 | ▼ 1.15 % | Pull‑back after Monday’s rally. |
| Hindalco Industries | 706.80 | ▼ 1.03 % | Weakness in metals; investors locked in profits. |
| Bajaj Finserv | 1 973.90 | ▼ 0.98 % | Financials lagged the market. |
| Mahindra & Mahindra | 3 357.00 | ▼ 0.77 % | Mild correction after a strong run. |
Sectoral performance
- Top outperformers: Printing & Stationery (▲ 4.99 %), Engineering Services (▲ 3.66 %), Cables (▲ 2.73 %) and Diamond, Gems & Jewellery (▲ 2.33 %).
- Lagging sectors: Castings, Forgings & Fasteners (▼ 1.05 %), Aerospace & Defence (▼ 0.37 %) and Insurance (▼ 0.30 %).
- Market breadth remained bullish: about 2 816 stocks advanced against 1 590 declines on the NSE (≈64 % of traded scrips closed higher).
Global cues and other statistics
| Indicator | Latest value | Daily change | Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| GIFT Nifty | 25 045.00 | ▲ 0.13 % | Suggests a steady domestic start. |
| Dow Jones (US) | 44 930.94 | ▼ 0.09 % | Slightly negative ahead of US data releases. |
| Nasdaq Composite | 21 650.64 | ▲ 0.03 % | Tech shares range‑bound. |
| S&P 500 | 6 470.24 | ▼ 0.01 % | Flat; investors await Fed speeches. |
| Nikkei 225 (Japan) | 43 630 | ▼ 0.19 % | Weaker yen failed to lift equities. |
| Hang Seng (Hong Kong) | 25 224 | ▲ 0.19 % | Support from property and tech stocks. |
| Shanghai Composite (China) | 4 254 | ▲ 0.31 % | Gains on stimulus hopes. |
| WTI Crude Oil | US$ 62.24/bbl | ▼ 0.46 % | Lower crude prices ease inflation concerns. |
| US 10‑yr Treasury yield | 4.343 % | +0.004 % | Stable yields; no fresh macro shocks. |
| FII/DII (18 Aug) | FII: +₹550.8 cr ; DII: +₹4 103.8 cr | – | Domestic institutions remain strong buyers; foreign flows turned positive after recent selling streak. |
Key stocks & corporate updates to watch
- Indian Oil Corp (IOCL): Still buying Russian crude, though discounts have narrowed; the US may impose higher tariffs on such imports.
- Reliance Power: Through associate Reliance Enterprises, formed GDL–Reliance Solar (50:50 JV) in Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City project.
- JSW Steel & POSCO: Signed an agreement to explore a 6 MTPA integrated steel plant; builds on their 2024 MoU for a potential 50:50 JV.
- GMR Airports: Redeeming ₹5 000 cr worth of non‑convertible bonds across three issues.
- Escorts Kubota: Received a GST refund of ₹46.37 cr from Haryana tax authorities.
- Reliance Consumer Products (RCPL): Entered the herbal/functional beverages market by taking a majority stake in Naturedge Beverages.
- Hinduja Group: Plans to invest US$ 3–4 bn to triple renewable capacity to >10 GW by 2030 (solar, wind, hybrid, battery storage).
- Glenmark Pharma, Alembic Pharma & Sun Pharma: Withdrawing certain products from the US market due to manufacturing issues, which may weigh on their shares.
Market outlook for Wednesday, 20 Aug 2025
- Momentum & sentiment: The Nifty closing near the 25 000 mark and the Sensex above 81 600 reflects strong risk appetite. Broader participation and low volatility (India VIX ~11.7) suggest the uptrend could extend, but valuations are getting stretched.
- Support/resistance levels: For the Nifty 50, 24 800–24 850 is immediate support; a move above 25 050 could pave the way to 25 200. On the downside, closing below 24 750 may trigger profit‑booking.
- Global factors: Investors will watch Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech in Wyoming later this week for clues on the next US rate move. Mixed signals from the US and Asia, along with steady crude oil and bond yields, indicate a cautious but positive global backdrop.
- Domestic cues: Expectations around a GST rate cut, monsoon progress and auto/energy sector news will continue to drive sentiment. FII flows turning positive and continued DII buying are supportive, but any sharp reversal in foreign inflows or negative global news could trigger volatility.
- Key events: Weekly F&O expiry on Thursday may heighten volatility. Corporate developments (e.g., details of the JSW‑POSCO plant, updates on the Hindustan Zinc battery venture, progress on Reliance Power’s JV) could influence specific stocks.
Overall, India’s market sentiment remains upbeat with broad-based buying and positive domestic triggers. However, traders should be prepared for potential consolidation around psychological levels and monitor global events closely.
