After a choppy start, the Indian stock markets ended Tuesday on a firm footing, with both Sensex and Nifty closing in positive territory. The benchmark Sensex wrapped up the session at 79,595.59, rising by 0.24%%, while the Nifty 50 settled at 24,167.25, up by 0.17%. The Nifty Bank index also continued its winning streak, closing at 55,647.20, climbing 0.62%.
Let’s break down the key highlights from today’s trading session:
Banking stocks lead the charge
Banking shares took centre stage again, with the Nifty Bank index gaining over 11% in the last six sessions, fuelled by strong Q4 earnings. HDFC Bank etched its name into the record books today by crossing the Rs 15 lakh crore market capitalisation mark, becoming only the third Indian company ever to achieve this.
Furthermore, in the Q4FY25 HDFC Bank reported a net profit of Rs 17,616 crore, a 6.6% rise over the previous quarter. ICICI Bank wasn’t far behind, posting an 18% year-on-year surge in profit at Rs 12,630 crore. Meanwhile, YES Bank surprised the Street with a sharp 63% rise in profit to Rs 738 crore.
Fair and lovely session for FMCG
FMCG stocks outperformed in today’s trading session, with the Nifty FMCG index rising by 1.8% to close at 57,193.80. Among the top gainers in the sector were Emami, Hindustan Copper, Radico Khaitan, United Spirits, ITC, and Hindustan Unilever.
Top gainers of the day
ITC led the Nifty gainers with a 2% rise, followed closely by Hindustan Unilever. Other notable performers included Mahindra & Mahindra, Jio Financial Services, HDFC Bank, and Tata Consumer Products.
Top losers in focus
On the flip side, IndusInd Bank was the biggest drag, plunging 5%. Other laggards included Power Grid, Infosys, Hero MotoCorp, and Bharti Airtel.
RBI’s LCR Norm easing
The Reserve Bank of India added to the cheer by easing liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) norms. It reduced the proposed buffer for internet and mobile banking-enabled deposits from 5% to 2.5%.
FII inflows back on track
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have made a strong comeback. With crude oil prices falling, the US dollar weakening, and inflation easing at home, India has emerged as a favoured investment destination for global investors.
Gold shine bright, crosses Rs 1 lakh mark
Gold futures surged to fresh all-time highs. On Tuesday, the yellow metal jumped by Rs 1,899 to touch Rs 99,178 per 10 grams. Notably, the October contract on MCX breached the Rs 1 lakh mark for the first time, touching Rs 1,00,484.
Market pulse – A snapshot of Nifty trading dynamics
The Nifty ended the day with a mixed yet dynamic performance. Out of 2,986 stocks traded, 1,834 stocks advanced while 1,059 declined, and 93 remained unchanged. The session saw a surge in momentum with 71 stocks touching their 52-week highs. In contrast, 11 stocks slumped to their 52-week lows. Meanwhile, 155 stocks were locked in the upper circuit, whereas 46 stocks hit the lower circuit.