Sensex and Nifty: Marginal Retreat After Early Gains

The BSE Sensex opened the day on a positive note, rising by 88.12 points in early trade. However, the benchmark index reversed course to trade lower by 79.77 points, settling at 85,152.15, representing a decline of 0.09%. Similarly, the Sensex was last seen at 85,174.01, down 0.07% from the previous close, after falling as much as 146.03 points during the session. Despite the dip, the index remains within striking distance of its 52-week high of 85,801.70, currently about 0.74% away.

Technical indicators show the Sensex trading above its 50-day moving average (DMA), with the 50 DMA positioned above the 200 DMA, signalling a generally positive medium-term trend despite the short-term pullback.

Sectoral Trends: IT Shines While Realty Faces Headwinds

Out of 38 sectors tracked, only 9 advanced while 29 declined, underscoring the cautious mood among investors. The NIFTY IT sector led the gains with a 0.64% rise, buoyed by strength in select large-cap technology stocks. Conversely, the realty sector bore the brunt of selling pressure, falling by 1.94%, marking it as the worst-performing sector on the day.

Other sectors such as banking, metals, and consumer goods also experienced declines, contributing to the overall market softness.

Market Breadth and Capitalisation Segments

The advance-decline ratio across the BSE 500 index stood at 134 advances against 365 declines, translating to a breadth ratio of 0.37x. This skew towards declines highlights the broad-based nature of the selling pressure.

Market capitalisation segments reflected similar trends, with the BSE 100 large-cap index falling by 0.23%, the mid-cap index by 0.42%, and the small-cap index by 1.07%. The sharper fall in small caps indicates a preference for quality and liquidity amid uncertain market conditions.

Top Gainers and Losers Across Market Caps

Among the BSE 500 stocks, ITI emerged as the top gainer with a robust 10.33% rise, followed by Asahi India Glass at 4.82% and Inventurus Knowl at 4.45%. These stocks benefited from sector-specific developments and investor interest in niche segments.

On the downside, C P C L led the losses with a 7.05% decline, while Anant Raj and Olectra Greentec fell by 5.41% and 4.88% respectively, reflecting sectoral challenges and profit-booking.

Within large caps, Tech Mahindra stood out as the top gainer, advancing 2.32%, supported by positive sentiment in the IT space. Conversely, JSW Steel was the largest large-cap laggard, retreating by 2.94%, pressured by subdued global commodity prices.

Mid-cap stocks saw Inventurus Knowl gain 4.45%, while Deepak Nitrite declined 4.21%. Small caps experienced more volatility, with VLS Finance surging 17.70%, contrasting with Antelopus Selan’s sharp 15.25% fall.

Foreign Institutional and Domestic Institutional Activity

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) activity remained mixed, reflecting global uncertainties and domestic economic data releases. While detailed net flows are yet to be fully disclosed, the cautious stance of FIIs was evident in the subdued market breadth and sectoral divergences.

Global Cues and Their Impact on Indian Markets

Global markets exhibited a cautious tone amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and mixed economic data from major economies. Asian markets closed mostly lower, while US futures indicated subdued trading ahead of key economic announcements. These external factors contributed to the restrained investor appetite in Indian equities.

Technical Outlook and Market Sentiment

Despite the intraday weakness, the Sensex’s position above its 50 DMA and the 50 DMA’s placement above the 200 DMA suggest underlying resilience. However, the broad-based decline in sector participation and the negative breadth ratio indicate that investors are selectively booking profits and awaiting clearer cues before committing fresh capital.

Investor Takeaway

Investors should note the cautious tone prevailing in the market, with selective sectoral strength in IT contrasting with weakness in realty and metals. The marginal retreat in the Sensex and Nifty, coupled with the negative breadth, suggests a consolidation phase rather than a decisive downtrend. Monitoring global developments and domestic economic indicators will be crucial in the coming sessions to gauge the market’s next directional move.

Stocks such as Tech Mahindra and ITI, which showed relative strength, may continue to attract interest, while sectors under pressure could offer selective opportunities on valuation dips for long-term investors.

Conclusion

The Indian equity market on 24 Nov 2025 reflected a cautious investor stance amid mixed sectoral performances and subdued global cues. While the Sensex and Nifty traded slightly lower, the IT sector’s outperformance provided some respite. Market participants are advised to remain vigilant and consider broader macroeconomic factors alongside technical signals before making investment decisions.

Get 2 full years of MojoOne Premium for only Rs. 12,999. Subscribe for 1 year and we'll add another year FREE. Offer valid for a limited time. Start Saving Now →