By the end of the day:
- Sensex closed at 78,472.87, down 67.30 points (0.09%)
- Nifty ended at 23,727.65, slipping 25.80 points (0.11%)
Among broader indices: - Nifty Smallcap100 rose by 0.24%
- Nifty Midcap100 edged down by 0.06%
The markets will remain closed on December 25 for Christmas.
Impact on the stock market
The auto sector led the pack with a 0.57% gain, driven by strong performances from Tata Motors and Eicher Motors. The FMCG and oil marketing companies (OMC) sectors also ended in the green, while private banks and healthcare stocks held steady.
However, the metal sector dragged the market down, with JSW Steel among the biggest losers. IT and PSU bank stocks also saw selling pressure.
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| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | -0.36% |
| Healthcare sector | 0.00% |
| Oil & Gas sector | 0.54% |
| Real estate sector | -0.08% |
| PSU Bank in India | -0.56% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| Tata Motors Share Price | 736.10 | +1.92 |
| Adani Enterpris Share Price | 2,372.45 | +1.43 |
| BPCL Share Price | 292.00 | +1.00 |
| Eicher Motors Share Price | 4,792.90 | +0.89 |
| ITC Share Price | 478.45 | +0.89 |
Top losers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| Power Grid Corp Share Price | 310.10 | -1.65 |
| JSW Steel Share Price | 921.85 | -1.62 |
| SBI Life Insura Share Price | 1,387.00 | -1.30 |
| Titan Company Share Price | 3,353.40 | -1.28 |
| SBI Share Price | 812.05 | -1.11 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
City gas stocks extend gains
City gas distribution (CGD) companies like Indraprastha Gas (IGL), Mahanagar Gas (MGL), and Gujarat Gas continued their upward trajectory.
- IGL rose 2.7% to ₹400.5
- Gujarat Gas climbed 2.1% to ₹509.15
- MGL gained 2.8% to hover near ₹1,260
The rally comes on the back of a proposal by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to cut central excise duty on CNG from 14% to 7%. This move is expected to provide a significant boost to CGD companies by improving profit margins.
Greaves Cotton surges on IPO news
Greaves Cotton soared by 11% after news that its electric vehicle (EV) arm, Greaves Electric Mobility Ltd (GEML), had filed for an IPO with SEBI.
- Stock price: ₹253.10 (intraday high of ₹257.40, just shy of the record ₹259.49)
- Trading volume: Over 1 crore shares changed hands, exceeding the monthly average of 92 lakh shares.
The stock has been on a tear, surging by 45% in the past month following board approval of GEML’s IPO. Prominent investor Vijay Kedia recently acquired a 0.5% stake in the company, further driving investor confidence.
Partners Group to rejig India portfolio
Swiss private equity giant Partners Group Holding AG is set to rebalance its $8 billion Indian portfolio, shifting focus to sectors like healthcare, technology, education, and shadow lending.
- Recently sold a 23% stake in Vishal Mega Mart for $3 billion.
- Awaiting approval to sell a 10.8% stake in Aavas Financiers.
- Planning an IPO for Ecom Express Ltd., where it holds a 40% stake.
This realignment reflects Partners Group’s intent to cash in on gains from legacy investments and pivot towards India’s high-growth sectors.
Crude oil futures rise after the US avoids shutdown
Crude oil prices ticked higher on December 24, driven by strong US economic data and rising demand from India.
- Brent crude (March): $72.64 (+0.44%)
- WTI crude (February): $69.53 (+0.42%)
- MCX crude oil (January): ₹5,934 (+0.56%)
India’s crude oil imports rose by 2.57% in November to 19.07 million tonnes, reflecting sustained domestic demand.
Meanwhile, natural gas futures also traded higher:
- MCX natural gas (January): ₹290.30 (+2.43%)
Conclusion
Today’s market session highlighted a sectoral divide, with auto and FMCG stocks buoying sentiment, while metals and IT stocks pulled back.
The focus now shifts to whether the Nifty50 can break out of its tight trading range of 23,650 to 23,850 in the coming sessions.
Investors are eagerly awaiting signals on market direction post-holiday, with IPOs, excise duty reforms, and global oil prices likely to shape the near-term outlook.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
