The benchmark BSE Sensex dropped 329.92 points (0.43%), settling at 76,190.46. It fluctuated between 76,985.95 (day’s high) and 76,091.75 (day’s low), reflecting high volatility.
The NSE Nifty50 followed suit, ending 113.15 points (0.49%) lower at 23,092.20. It recorded a day’s high of 23,347.30 and a low of 23,050.
Nifty Smallcap100 tumbled 2.35%, led by Cyient and Jupiter Wagons, which fell up to 22.80%.
Nifty Midcap100 ended 1.55% lower, reflecting broad market weakness.
Impact on the stock market
Sectoral indices under pressure
The market sentiment was predominantly bearish, with 31 out of 50 Nifty50 stocks closing in the red.
- Nifty FMCG and IT were the only two sectors that remained resilient.
- Nifty Realty, Pharma, Healthcare, and OMCs fell over 2% each.
- Nifty Auto, PSU Bank, and Consumer Durables lost over 1% each.
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| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | 0.40% |
| Healthcare sector | -2.11% |
| Oil & Gas sector | -2.14% |
| Real estate sector | -2.31% |
| PSU Bank in India | -1.37% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| HUL Share Price | 2,368.10 | 2.00 |
| Britannia Share Price | 5,101.55 | 1.77 |
| Eicher Motors Share Price | 5,204.00 | 1.72 |
| Grasim Share Price | 2,490.75 | 1.20 |
| TATA Cons. Prod Share Price | 992.35 | 0.86 |
Top losers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| Dr Reddys Labs Share Price | 1,224.40 | -5.04 |
| Trent Share Price | 5,490.45 | -4.24 |
| M&M Share Price | 2,801.40 | -2.95 |
| Adani Enterpris Share Price | 2,315.10 | -2.93 |
| BPCL Share Price | 263.80 | -2.75 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
Shriram Finance: Strong Q3 earnings but stock slides
Shriram Finance Ltd posted an impressive 96% YoY rise in net profit, reaching ₹3,570 crore in Q3 FY25. This surge was driven by a ₹1,489 crore post-tax gain from a stake sale in its housing finance subsidiary.
Despite the solid numbers, Shriram Finance’s stock fell 1.6%, closing at ₹521, as investors booked profits. Excluding the one-time gain, the profit after tax grew 14.4% YoY to ₹2,080 crore, while net interest income (NII) increased 14.3% YoY to ₹5,823 crore.
Mphasis: Stock surges over 4% on strong earnings
Mphasis shares rallied 4.39%, closing at ₹3,047.15, after strong Q3 numbers.
- Revenue increased 6.69% YoY to ₹3,561 crore.
- Net profit rose 15% YoY to ₹428 crore.
- Total contract value (TCV) surged 46% to $351 million.
CEO Nitin Rakesh hinted that Q4 could be the best in three years, with robust deal momentum.
Paytm: Stock falls 8% on ED probe rumours, then recovers
Paytm shares tanked 8.12% in early trade on speculation of an ED probe into a crypto scam. However, the stock pared some losses, closing 3.32% lower at ₹820.95.
The company denied receiving any ED queries, but investor sentiment remained cautious. Additionally, Paytm’s Q3 net loss narrowed to ₹208.5 crore, down from ₹221.7 crore last year, driven by cost-cutting measures. However, revenue plunged 35.8% YoY to ₹1,827.8 crore, with declines across payment and financial services.
Also read: Paytm Q3 Results: Lower Net Loss but Revenue Decline
Crude oil: Prices dip as Trump pressures Saudi Arabia
Crude oil prices edged lower after Donald Trump urged Saudi Arabia to cut oil prices to help end the Russia-Ukraine war.
- March Brent crude futures fell 0.11% to $78.20.
- March WTI crude futures dropped 0.16% to $74.50.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), February crude oil futures declined 0.62% to ₹6,444, while March futures fell 0.56% to ₹6,414.
Meanwhile, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a 1-million-barrel decline in crude oil inventories, but this was not enough to boost prices.
Conclusion: What’s next for the Indian stock market?
The Indian stock market witnessed a broad-based decline, with Sensex and Nifty50 falling amid strong selling pressure. Small-cap and mid-cap stocks were hit the hardest, while FMCG and IT sectors provided some cushion.
Key takeaways:
- Shriram Finance delivered strong Q3 earnings, but profit booking led to a stock decline.
- Mphasis surged on revenue growth and positive outlook.
- Paytm saw sharp swings due to regulatory concerns but managed a partial recovery.
- Crude oil prices dipped after Trump’s remarks.
With macroeconomic indicators and corporate earnings driving sentiment, the next few sessions will be crucial. Will the market rebound or continue its slide? Stay tuned for more updates.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
