The BSE Sensex rose 224.45 points (0.29%) to settle at 76,724.08, trading between 76,991.05 and 76,479.70 during the day. The NSE Nifty50 gained 37.15 points (0.16%) to close at 23,213.20, after hitting an intraday high of 23,293.65 and a low of 23,146.45.
The broader markets also posted gains:
- Nifty Midcap100: +0.41%
- Nifty Smallcap100: +0.56%
However, the volatility index rose 1.37% to 15.26, indicating increased uncertainty.
Impact on the stock market
Sectoral indices saw a mixed performance:
- Nifty IT and Realty led the pack with gains of 1.39%.
- Nifty Auto, FMCG, and Healthcare declined, with losses of up to 1.78%.
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| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | 0.79% |
| Healthcare sector | -1.27% |
| Oil & Gas sector | 0.06% |
| Real estate sector | 1.39% |
| PSU Bank in India | 0.10% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| Trent Share Price | 6,390.25 | 3.72 |
| NTPC Share Price | 321.35 | 3.53 |
| Power Grid Corp Share Price | 298.65 | 2.89 |
| Kotak Mahindra Share Price | 1,789.60 | 2.23 |
| Maruti Suzuki Share Price | 11,947.40 | 1.76 |
Top losers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| M&M Share Price | 2,960.25 | -2.93 |
| Bajaj Finserv Share Price | 1,671.65 | -2.44 |
| Axis Bank Share Price | 1,026.80 | -2.36 |
| Bajaj Finance Share Price | 7,177.40 | -2.15 |
| Shriram Finance Share Price | 533.20 | -2.00 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
Reliance Industries: Earnings anticipation boosts sentiment
Reliance Industries (RIL) is gearing up to announce its Q3 FY25 results on January 16, with expectations of a 6% sequential increase in net profit to ₹17,482 crore and a 5% rise in EBITDA to ₹41,125 crore. Analysts attribute this to higher refining margins and improved digital service earnings.
RIL’s EBITDA margin is forecasted to improve to 18.2-18.9%, reflecting operational strength. This announcement is expected to play a significant role in driving market sentiment.
Bank of Maharashtra: Mixed reaction to earnings
Bank of Maharashtra posted an impressive 36% year-on-year (YoY) growth in net profit to ₹1,407 crore for Q3 FY25. However, shares dropped 3% to ₹51.14, marking a 25.6% decline over the past six months.
Key Metrics:
- Total income: ₹7,112 crore (+22% YoY)
- Gross NPA: 1.8% (down from 2.04% YoY)
- Net NPA: 0.2% (unchanged from Q2 FY25)
Despite strong earnings, investor sentiment remained cautious due to persistent stock underperformance.
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HDFC Life: Strong Q3 beats expectations
HDFC Life Insurance recorded a 14% YoY growth in Q3 net profit, reaching ₹415 crore. The company outperformed estimates in key metrics:
- APE: ₹3,686 crore (+15.5% YoY)
- VNB Margin: 27.4%
- AUM: ₹3.3 lakh crore (+18% YoY)
Persistency ratios improved significantly, with the 13th-month ratio at 87%. Despite these results, shares declined 1.1% to ₹593.7.
Crude oil: A global spotlight
Crude oil futures rose as demand for heating oil surged due to cold weather across the US and Europe.
- Brent crude (March futures): $77.20/barrel (+0.36%)
- WTI crude (February futures): $74.17/barrel (+0.34%)
Indian refiners accelerated payments for Russian oil ahead of impending US sanctions. With over 4.4 million barrels en route to India, banks have shifted transactions to rubles to bypass dollar-linked price caps.
Conclusion
The Indian stock market closed on a positive note, buoyed by gains in IT and Realty sectors, along with upbeat corporate earnings. Reliance Industries and HDFC Life delivered strong performances, while Bank of Maharashtra faced a mixed reaction despite solid numbers. On the global front, rising crude oil prices and geopolitical pressures add a layer of complexity for markets.
As earnings season continues, investors should keep an eye on evolving trends to navigate market volatility effectively.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
