Sensex and Nifty Performance Overview
The benchmark Sensex opened flat with a slight dip of 41.32 points but gradually moved into negative territory, closing at 84,413.13. This level places the index approximately 2.07% below its 52-week high of 86,159.02. Notably, the Sensex continues to trade above its 50-day moving average (DMA), which itself remains above the 200 DMA, signalling a medium-term positive technical setup despite the day's modest decline.
The Nifty index mirrored this cautious tone, with sectoral divergences influencing overall market direction. Out of 38 sectors tracked, 12 advanced while 26 declined, indicating a broad-based retreat across multiple segments.
Sectoral Trends: IT Outperforms While Media Faces Pressure
The NIFTY IT sector emerged as the top performer, registering gains of 0.93%. This resilience was supported by select large-cap IT stocks that attracted buying interest amid global technology sector optimism. Conversely, the NIFTY MEDIA sector faced the steepest losses, declining by 1.36%, weighed down by profit booking and subdued advertising spends impacting media companies.
Mid-cap stocks traded largely flat, with the Midcap index showing a marginal fall of 0.12%. The BSE100 and Smallcap indices also reflected cautious trading, falling by 0.15% and 0.36% respectively, underscoring a risk-averse mood among investors in smaller and mid-sized companies.
Top Gainers and Losers Across Market Capitalisations
Among large caps, HDFC AMC stood out with a robust gain of 7.04%, buoyed by positive investor interest in asset management companies amid steady inflows into mutual funds. In the mid-cap space, Nippon Life India Asset Management recorded a 5.26% rise, reflecting similar sectoral strength.
Small-cap stocks saw notable volatility, with Gabriel India surging 16.81%, emerging as the top gainer in this category. This sharp move may be attributed to company-specific developments or renewed investor focus on cyclical recovery themes.
On the downside, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) led large-cap losses with a 3.98% decline, pressured by concerns over refining margins and global crude price fluctuations. Mid-cap laggard Ola Electric fell 5.26%, while small-cap Dishman Carbogen declined 8.18%, reflecting sector-specific challenges and profit-taking.
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Market Breadth and Broader Indices
The advance-decline ratio across the BSE500 index stood at 175 advances against 320 declines, translating to a ratio of 0.55x. This skew towards declines highlights the cautious stance among investors amid mixed earnings outlooks and global uncertainties.
Within the BSE500 universe, top gainers included HBL Engineering with an 8.41% rise and Hindustan Copper advancing 5.31%, signalling pockets of strength in engineering and metal sectors. Conversely, notable decliners were Hitachi Energy and Siemens Energy India, falling 5.12% and 4.51% respectively, reflecting sector-specific pressures in industrials and energy equipment.
Foreign Institutional and Domestic Institutional Activity
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) activity remained subdued, with no significant net inflows or outflows reported during the session. This neutral stance from major market participants contributed to the sideways movement in key indices.
Global Cues and Their Impact
Global markets exhibited mixed signals, with US and European indices showing modest gains amid ongoing economic data releases and central bank commentary. However, concerns over inflationary pressures and geopolitical tensions continued to temper risk appetite. These external factors influenced Indian markets, leading to a cautious approach among domestic investors.
Technical Outlook
From a technical perspective, the Sensex's position above the 50-day moving average, which itself is above the 200-day moving average, suggests that the medium-term trend remains intact despite the day's minor setback. The index's proximity to its 52-week high indicates potential resistance levels near 86,159 points, which may require sustained buying momentum to overcome.
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Upcoming Corporate Results
Market participants are also awaiting the quarterly results of Sudeep Pharma, scheduled for release on 19 Dec 2025. The outcome of this announcement may influence sectoral sentiment within the pharmaceutical space and broader mid-cap indices.
Conclusion
In summary, the Indian equity market on 18 Dec 2025 displayed a cautious tone with the Sensex edging lower amid mixed sectoral performances. While IT and select asset management companies like HDFC AMC and Nippon Life India Asset Management attracted buying interest, pressure on media, oil, and certain industrial stocks capped gains. Market breadth remained weak, reflecting investor prudence amid global uncertainties and subdued institutional activity. Technical indicators suggest the market remains in a consolidation phase, with key moving averages providing support. Investors may look to upcoming corporate results and global developments for directional cues in the near term.
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