Key indices & sector performance
| Index/sector | Closing level | Change (pts/%)* | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensex | 83 467.66 | ▲ 862.23 pts (▲ 1.04 %) | Highest level in ~1 month; 28 of 30 constituents advanced. |
| Nifty 50 | 25 585.30 | ▲ 261.75 pts (▲ 1.03 %) | Closed above 25 500; strong follow‑through buying. |
| Nifty Bank | 57 416.60 | ▲ ~616 pts (▲ 1.09 %) | Less than 200 pts from record high (57 628). Bank stocks led the rally. |
*Percentages approximate; daily data reflect 16 Oct 2025 close.
Market breadth: On the BSE, ~2 374 stocks advanced and ~1 814 declined, indicating broad participation. The total market capitalisation rose to roughly ₹ 466.8 lakh cr (approx. ₹ 3 lakh cr addition in a day). India VIX stayed near 10–11, suggesting moderate volatility.
Top gainers and losers
| Top Nifty/Sensex gainers | % chg | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nestle India | ≈ +4.5 % | Benefited from strong Q2 sales and margin expansion. |
| Tata Consumer Products | ≈ +3.2 % | Continued post‑earnings momentum; rising demand for packaged foods. |
| Kotak Bank | ≈ +2.7 % | Gains ahead of Q2 results; improved asset quality and steady NII. |
| Titan | ≈ +2.6 % | Festive demand boosted jewellery and watch divisions. |
| Axis Bank / Adani Ports | ≈ +2 % | Banking rally; ports gained on trade‑deal optimism. Reliance, M&M and Hindustan Unilever also added over 1 %. |
| Top losers | % chg | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eternal (Zomato) | ≈ –4 % | Q2 profit slipped; revenue growth disappointed investors. |
| HDFC Life Insurance | ≈ –2.4 % | Margins contracted; slower growth in protection business. |
| Infosys | ≈ –1 % | Weak guidance commentary from global peers weighed on IT stocks. |
| Shriram Finance | ≈ –0.7 % | Profit‑booking after recent gains. |
| Other losers | — | KEI Industries, V2 Retail and Netweb Technologies slipped ~4–5 % in the broader market. |
What moved the market
- Stronger global cues: Overnight, major US indices benefited from robust earnings by large banks and chipmakers; Asian peers such as Nikkei, Topix and Kospi rose 0.8–1.1 %. Hopes of an imminent India‑US trade deal and easing trade tensions buoyed sentiment.
- Stable Q2 earnings: Early results across sectors came in broadly in line; there were no major negative surprises. Investors rotated into consumption‑oriented themes (FMCG, Auto, Consumer Durables) ahead of the festive season.
- Rupee strength & lower crude: The rupee appreciated to around ₹ 87.8/USD after the Reserve Bank of India intervened aggressively, selling dollars to stabilise the currency. Brent crude hovered near $62/bbl, reducing concerns about imported inflation.
- Foreign & domestic flows: Foreign institutional investors have turned net buyers after weeks of selling, supported by expectations of US rate cuts. Domestic institutions continued to pump money into equities, adding to liquidity.
- Macro tailwinds: A sharply lower September CPI (around 1.5 %), IMF’s upward revision of India’s FY26 growth forecast to 6.6 % and expectations of an RBI rate cut helped risk sentiment.
Global backdrop
- US: Dow gained ~0.4 % overnight, S&P 500 +0.4 % and Nasdaq +0.7 %. Traders are pricing in a 25‑bp Fed rate cut at the next meeting. US CPI and PPI data scheduled later this week could influence direction.
- Europe: Major European indices traded mixed; investors monitored the appointment of France’s new prime minister and continued Brexit‑trade discussions. A softer dollar index (~98.8) supported global risk assets.
- Asia: Nikkei +0.95 %, Topix +0.8 %, Kospi +1.09 %, ASX200 +0.16 %. Sentiment improved on strong US earnings and hopes of stable China demand; China’s CPI decline of 0.3 % YoY signaled deflationary pressures but raised stimulus expectations.
Corporate & stock‑specific developments
- Axis Bank: Q2 standalone net profit fell 26.4 % YoY to ₹ 5,089.6 cr due to higher provisions; NII increased 1.9 % and asset quality improved. Stock still gained on optimism around retail lending.
- HDFC Life Insurance: Q2 consolidated net profit rose 3 % to ₹ 448.3 cr; premium income grew 13.6 % to ₹ 18,871 cr. Shares slipped as margins were flat.
- L&T Finance: Q2 consolidated profit up 5.6 % to ₹ 734.8 cr; revenue up 7.9 % to ₹ 4,335.8 cr.
- Oberoi Realty: Q2 net profit surged 29 % to ₹ 760.3 cr; revenue up 34.8 %. The stock rallied.
- KEI Industries: Q2 profit climbed 31.5 % to ₹ 203.5 cr on 19.4 % revenue growth.
- Angel One: Q2 profit plunged 50 % to ₹ 211.7 cr due to lower trading volumes.
- Indian Overseas Bank: Q2 net profit jumped 58 % to ₹ 1,226 cr; the bank’s stock gained.
- Huhtamaki India: Q2 profit rose 214 % to ₹ 36.8 cr even though revenue slipped.
- Bharat Electronics: Bagged new defence orders worth ₹ 592 cr.
- Indian Energy Exchange: Market regulator SEBI uncovered insider‑trading transactions worth ₹ 173 cr; eight persons were barred.
- Adani Green Energy: H1 FY26 operational capacity increased 49 % to 16.7 GW; energy sale up 39 %.
Stocks to watch on 17 Oct 2025
- Earnings announcements: Wipro, Infosys, Jio Financial Services, Nestle India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, LTIMindtree, Zee Entertainment, Waaree Energies and JSW Infrastructure will announce quarterly results.
- IPO listings: Canara Robeco AMC, Anantam Highways Trust and Rubicon Research debut; listing gains could boost sentiment.
- Others: L&T Finance, Axis Bank, HDFC Life, Oberoi Realty, KEI Industries and Angel One will remain in focus after Q2 results. Watch Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) for reaction to SEBI’s insider‑trading action and Adani Green after reporting capacity expansion.
Outlook & technical view for tomorrow (17 Oct 2025)
- Nifty 50: Technically, the index formed a bullish candle with a higher high and higher low. Having broken above a falling trend‑line connecting prior peaks, momentum indicators suggest potential for further upside. Immediate support lies at 25 420–25 500; stronger support at 25 000–25 100. Resistance is seen at 25 800–26 000. Sustaining above 25 500 could pave the way toward 25 800/26 000. A pullback to the support zone would likely attract buying.
- Bank Nifty: The index is approaching its all‑time high of ~57 628. Immediate resistance is at 57 000–57 200; a breakout could target 57 600–58 000. Support lies at 56 200–56 000.
- Market tone: The near‑term bias remains positive, although after a two‑day, 1,400‑point rally in the Sensex, some consolidation is possible. Traders should monitor global macro data (US inflation, Fed commentary) and key earnings (IT majors and banks). Provided FII inflows continue and Q2 results stay benign, dips are likely to be bought. Overall tone for tomorrow is expected to be cautiously bullish with focus on sector rotation and earnings.
