Indian Markets End Lower After Volatile Session; Midcaps Shine
Overview
Indian equities closed mostly down Wednesday as Nifty dipped below 25,700, with the Sensex shedding 245 points. Broader midcap indices outperformed significantly, driven by strong earnings from sectors like metals, energy, and real estate, despite pressure in technology and paints.
Stocks Mentioned
Indian stock markets concluded Wednesday's trading session in the red, erasing earlier declines but failing to recover fully, with the Nifty slipping below the 25,700 mark. The benchmark Sensex closed down 245 points at 83,382, while the broader Nifty index settled 67 points lower at 25,666.
Midcaps Lead Gains Amidst Volatility
While the headline indices faltered, the broader market displayed resilience. The midcap index surged 173 points to 59,770, buoyed by strong performances in the energy, metals, and select public sector undertaking (PSU) stocks. This sector-specific strength provided a counter-balance to the overall downward trend.
Sectoral Highlights
Metal stocks continued their upward trajectory for a third day, with Vedanta reaching an all-time high. MRPL posted a significant 9% jump following robust third-quarter results. Union Bank of India rallied over 8% on strong Q3 earnings, contributing to positive sentiment among financial PSUs. Real estate stocks also saw robust buying interest, with Puravankara climbing over 9%. Energy counters remained firm, with ONGC and Oil India gaining around 2% as Brent crude prices surpassed $65 a barrel.
Pressures Emerge
The gains were tempered by notable declines. Asian Paints was the biggest Nifty laggard, dropping nearly 3% due to rising crude oil costs. Polycab India also fell 3% following a large block deal involving shares worth approximately ₹590 crore. Technology stocks faced headwinds post-earnings; Tata Elxsi lost 5% and Just Dial shed 2%.
Financial Support
Providing some support to the financials, HDFC Asset Management Company reported a 3% year-on-year increase in its third-quarter net profit to ₹769 crore, leading to a nearly 3% rise in its stock.
Outlook
The trading day was characterized by significant volatility, with investor attention divided between mixed earnings reports and fluctuating commodity prices, which spurred sharp stock-specific movements.
