Sensex and Nifty Trends
The BSE Sensex opened the day flat with a minor change of 8.27 points and subsequently edged up to trade at 85,628.76, reflecting a gain of 103.92 points or 0.12%. This level places the Sensex approximately 0.62% below its 52-week high of 86,159.02, signalling sustained investor interest near record territory. The index remains above its 50-day moving average (DMA), which itself is positioned above the 200 DMA, indicating a continued positive technical setup.
The Nifty index mirrored this steady performance, supported by a broad market participation across sectors.
Sectoral Performance: Leaders and Laggards
Out of 38 sectors tracked on the BSE, 30 sectors recorded gains while 8 sectors declined, underscoring a predominantly bullish market breadth. The NIFTY Media sector led the advance with a rise of 0.95%, buoyed by select media and entertainment stocks showing resilience amid mixed global cues. Conversely, the NIFTY Pharma sector lagged, slipping by 0.26%, pressured by profit-taking in some pharmaceutical counters.
Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small Cap Movements
Large cap stocks traded largely flat, with notable exceptions among individual names. Dixon Technologies emerged as the top large cap gainer, appreciating by 2.45%, reflecting investor confidence in its growth prospects. On the downside, Dr Reddy's Laboratories declined by 1.56%, contributing to the subdued pharma sector performance.
Mid cap stocks outperformed, with the BSE Mid Cap index rising by 0.37%. Ajanta Pharma led mid cap gains with a 4.28% increase, while Emcure Pharma was the largest mid cap decliner, down 1.60%. Small caps also showed positive momentum, with the BSE Small Cap index up 0.28%. K&R Rail Engineering stood out with a robust 10.75% gain, whereas Sandhar Technologies fell by 5.94%.
Market Breadth and Broader Indices
The advance-decline ratio across the BSE 500 index was 270 advances to 226 declines, yielding a ratio of approximately 1.19x. This indicates a healthy market breadth with more stocks participating in the upside. The BSE 100 index also recorded gains of 0.17%, reinforcing the positive trend across large and mid-sized companies.
Our latest monthly pick, this Small Cap from Oil Exploration/Refineries, is showing strong performance since announcement! See why our Investment Committee chose it after screening 50+ candidates.
- - Investment Committee approved
- - 50+ candidates screened
- - Strong post-announcement performance
Top Gainers and Losers Across BSE 500
Among the broader BSE 500 stocks, JBM Auto led the gainers with a substantial 10.31% rise, supported by robust demand outlook and positive sectoral trends. Manappuram Finance followed with a 6.45% increase, reflecting favourable credit growth expectations. Olectra Greentec also featured prominently, advancing 5.43% amid growing interest in clean energy solutions.
On the downside, OneSource Speciality Chemicals declined by 2.24%, Kajaria Ceramics slipped 1.84%, and Emcure Pharma fell 1.60%, reflecting sector-specific pressures and profit-booking.
Foreign Institutional and Domestic Institutional Activity
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) activity remained mixed, with FIIs showing cautious buying interest while DIIs maintained steady participation. This balanced flow contributed to the market’s measured gains and limited volatility during the session.
Global Cues and Their Impact
Global markets exhibited a cautious tone ahead of the holiday season, with major indices in the US and Europe trading in narrow ranges. Concerns over inflation trajectories and central bank policies continued to influence investor sentiment. Asian markets showed mixed performances, with some regional indices posting modest gains. These global factors appeared to have a muted impact on the Indian market, which remained focused on domestic earnings and sectoral developments.
Thinking about ? Our real-time Verdict report breaks down everything – from financial health and peer comparison to technical signals and fair valuation for this stock!
- - Real-time Verdict available
- - Financial health breakdown
- - Fair valuation calculated
Technical Outlook and Market Sentiment
The Sensex’s position above the 50 DMA, with the 50 DMA itself above the 200 DMA, suggests a continuation of the prevailing uptrend from a technical perspective. Market participants appear to be cautiously optimistic, with mid cap and small cap segments attracting incremental interest. The advance-decline ratio further supports a broad-based participation, which is a positive sign for sustained momentum.
However, selective profit-taking in certain sectors such as pharmaceuticals indicates that investors remain watchful of valuations and sector-specific risks.
Conclusion
On 24 December 2025, the Indian equity market demonstrated resilience by maintaining levels close to recent highs. The Sensex’s modest gain and the outperformance of mid cap stocks highlight a market environment where investors are selectively allocating capital to growth-oriented segments. Sectoral breadth remains healthy, with media and auto-related stocks showing strength, while pharmaceutical stocks face some pressure.
Global market caution and balanced institutional flows have contributed to a measured market advance, setting the stage for continued monitoring of earnings and macroeconomic developments as the year draws to a close.
Only Rs. 14,999 - Get MojoOne + Stock of the Week for 1 Year PLUS 18 Months FREE! Start Saving Now →
