The Indian stock market took a breather on Thursday, April 24, 2025, snapping a strong seven-day rally as investors booked profits in heavyweight and banking stocks. The S&P BSE SENSEX dropped 315.06 points to settle at 79,801.43, a decline of 0.39%. Meanwhile, the NSE NIFTY50 fell 82.25 points, or 0.34%, ending the session at 24,246.70. The dip comes amid mixed global cues and cautious sentiment surrounding corporate earnings.
Market Snapshot: Declines Amid Mixed Sentiment
Market participation remained balanced. Out of 2,930 stocks traded on the NSE, 1,404 advanced while 1,441 declined, and 85 remained unchanged. Notably, 42 stocks touched their 52-week highs, and 13 hit one-year lows. Meanwhile, 117 stocks hit upper circuits and 39 reached lower circuit limits. The combined market capitalization of NSE-listed companies stood at ₹427.09 lakh crore by market close.
The India VIX, a barometer for market volatility, rose 1.81% to 16.25, signaling increased investor uncertainty.
Sector Performance: FMCG and Consumer Durables Under Pressure
The broader market also ended on a weak note. The Nifty Midcap 100 index edged down 0.13% to 54,969.85, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 slipped 0.04% to 16,963.50. Sector-wise, FMCG and consumer durables led the losses as investors grew cautious in the wake of subdued earnings reports.
Major Movers: HUL Leads Decline
Hindustan Unilever (HUL) stood out as the biggest drag on the NIFTY50, plunging 4.12% after releasing its January-March 2025 quarterly results. Although the results met expectations, HUL’s cautious guidance spooked investors.
Other major losers included:
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Bharti Airtel: -1.89%
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Eicher Motors: -1.88%
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ICICI Bank: -1.64%
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Eternal: -1.02%
Global Market Trends: Mixed Signals from Asia and the US
Global cues remained mixed. On April 23, US indices rallied as hopes of a reduction in US-China trade tensions lifted investor sentiment. The Dow Jones surged 419.59 points to 39,606.57, while the S&P 500 climbed 1.67% to 5,375.86. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.50% to 16,708.05.
Asian markets were more cautious. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.5%, and Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.6%. However, the Hang Seng dipped 0.7%, Kospi slipped 0.1%, and Shanghai’s Composite Index ended flat.
FII Activity and Market Sentiment
Despite Thursday’s dip, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net buyers, purchasing ₹3,332.93 crore worth of equities. This steady inflow reflects continued faith in India’s long-term growth prospects. Additionally, positive developments on the global trade front have helped maintain a constructive tone.
What Should Investors Watch?
The market's pause after a sharp rally underscores the importance of stock-specific cues and sectoral performance. HUL’s fall, despite solid earnings, highlights how forward guidance can heavily influence investor behavior.
Going forward, investors should keep an eye on upcoming quarterly results, economic indicators, and international developments especially around US-China trade policies and global inflation trends.
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