Indian Market Today 24 April: Sensex, Nifty End 7-Day Gain Streak; LTIMindtree Misses, Crude Oil Jumps on Tensions

On 24 April 2025, Indian equity markets ended a strong 7-day winning streak, weighed down by weak earnings, global uncertainties, and heightened geopolitical tensions. The BSE Sensex fell 0.39% to settle at 79,801.43, while the Nifty 50 ended just below the 24,250 mark. Market breadth was negative, with losses seen in auto, banking, and FMCG stocks.

• Nifty 50 is down 0.34%
• Sensex is down 0.39%
• Bank Nifty is down 0.30%

You can track daily market activity in the Ticker's Market Section. 

Volatility returned to the market, with the India VIX rising nearly 2%.

Key Reasons Behind Today's Market Movement

1. Global Market Cues

Global markets played a crucial role in shaping today's market:

• US Markets: The US markets declined, showing a negative momentum.
  
  - Dow Jones Futures Today: 39,556.00 (-0.55%)
  - Nasdaq Futures Today: 18,693.00 (-0.59%)
  - S&P 500 Futures Today: 5,377.75 (-0.44%)
   *As of 15:27 IST
   
• Asian Markets: Negative cues from U.S. markets led to mixed reactions in Asian indices.
  
  - Nikkei: 35,039.15 (0.49%)
  - Hang Seng: 21,909.76 (-0.74%)
  - Shanghai Composite: 3,686.66 (0.029%)

2. FII & DII Activity (23 April 2025)

FIIs: Net sellers, withdrawing ₹1,234.5 Cr.
DIIs: Net buyers, investing ₹3,332.9 Cr.

Did you know you can find out where FIIs or DIIs are increasing holdings using Ticker's Stock Screener for free. Just paste the query DII Holding Q1 > DII Holding Q2 in the screener and get a list of stocks where DII have increased their holdings compared to the previous quarter. 

3. Sectoral & Stock Performance

Top Performing Sectors

The IT, Auto, and Realty sectors declined, while PSU Banks and Pharma gained.

Top Gainers & Losers

From the Nifty 200 index, here is the list of top gainers and losers among stocks.

On April 24, 2025, the Indian stock market saw significant movement in several key stocks. Divi's Laboratories emerged as the top gainer, jumping 5.19% to close at ₹6,225, driven by renewed interest in the pharmaceutical space.

Tata Elxsi also witnessed a strong rally, gaining 4.49%, reflecting bullish sentiment in the IT and design engineering segment. IndusInd Bank added 3.24%, contributing to the positive momentum in the banking sector.

On the flip side, Waaree Energies saw the steepest decline, falling 5.51%, possibly due to pressure in the renewables or energy segment. Hindustan Unilever dropped 4%, dragging down the FMCG sector on concerns around profitability.

Other notable losers included Kalyan Jewellers, Varun Beverages, and Macrotech Developers, each falling over 3%. These moves highlight the sectoral shifts and investor reactions shaping the market today.

4. Macro & Economic Factors Impacting the Market

• Currency Dynamics & Rupee Movement: The Indian Rupee gained 0.2% to close at ₹85.26 to the U.S. dollar, recovering from previously lost ground due to exporter dollar selling. However, in the near term, the rupee faces resistance at ₹85.70–₹85.80 due to continued foreign outflows and geopolitical concerns.
   
• Crude Oil Prices: Brent Crude prices stayed elevated at $87.6 per barrel, driven by escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent attack in Jammu & Kashmir.
   
• Geopolitical Impact: India's suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, closure of the Attari border, and expulsion of Pakistani military advisors added risk premiums to crude oil prices, impacting India's import bill and inflation outlook.
   
• Global Monetary Developments & Dollar Index: The Dollar Index softened mildly after former President Donald Trump publicly toned down his stance on the Federal Reserve and China, reducing fears of aggressive U.S. rate tightening.

5. Market Sentiment & Key Triggers

• Earnings-Driven Volatility Returns: Market sentiment was impacted by the Q4FY25 earnings season. FMCG giants like HUL faced difficult conditions, confronted with weak volumes and margin pressure.
   
• Selective Buying in Pharma & PSU Banks: Pharma and PSU bank stocks performed steadily, with mid-cap names in the sector gaining notable traction. Investors are closely watching key PSU banks, anticipating stable asset quality and consistent net interest margins ahead of earnings results.
   
• Tech & Consumer Stocks Under Pressure: LTIMindtree missed its estimates and remained volatile during today's session, while both consumer-focused and biotechnology stocks faced pressure. Weakness in these sectors shows cautious guidance and looming earnings challenges.
   
• Strategic Deals & Corporate News Flow: In the M&A space, Devyani International announced its acquisition of an 80.72% stake in Biryani By Kilo for ₹420 crore, marking its foray into premium QSR dining. ​
   
• Market Sentiment: While frontline indices are off record highs, the broader market is facing fatigue. India VIX rising by 2% indicates rising risk perception.​

Conclusion & Investment Strategy

The Indian stock market experienced a reasonable correction after a long rally, and some disappointment with earnings results, along with geopolitical uncertainty, might help maintain volatility over the near term, as there are still rights-weighted earnings and foreign flows are uncertain.

From Finology Research Desk:

Investors will want to cautiously approach leveraged positions during this earnings-heavy and geopolitically sensitive week. With improving margin profiles, investors could identify entry points in fundamentally strong PSU banks and some mid-cap pharma names. In the short term, avoid excess exposure in sectors with volume pressures and elevated costs like FAST-MOVING CONSUMER GOODS and autos.