- BSE Sensex closed 312.53 points lower at 78,271.28, down 0.40%. The index fluctuated between 78,735.41 and 78,226.26 during the day.
- NSE Nifty50 slipped 42.95 points to settle at 23,696.30, down 0.18%. It recorded a high of 23,807.30 and a low of 23,680.45.
The broader markets continued their strong performance:
- Nifty Smallcap100 jumped 1.85%, outperforming the large caps.
- Nifty Midcap100 gained 0.68%, showing resilience in mid-tier stocks.
Impact on the stock market
Sectoral Performance: Who Gained and Who Lost?
Most sectoral indices ended in the green, except for a few that faced selling pressure.
Top Losing Sectors:
- Nifty FMCG, Realty, Auto, and Consumer Durable indices closed down by up to 1.85%.
- Major draggers included Asian Paints, Titan, Nestle India, Britannia, and Tata Consumer, which fell up to 3.40%.
Top Gaining Sectors:
- Nifty PSU Bank, Metal, OMCs, and Media indices rose over 1% each, helping offset broader weakness.
- Stocks like ONGC, Hindalco, Apollo Hospitals, and BPCL posted gains of up to 2.90%.
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| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | 0.07% |
| Healthcare sector | 0.72% |
| Oil & Gas sector | 1.46% |
| Real estate sector | -1.85% |
| PSU Bank in India | 1.03% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| ONGC Share Price | 261.65 | +2.97 |
| Hindalco Share Price | 600.60 | +2.85 |
| Apollo Hospital Share Price | 6,944.65 | +2.24 |
| BPCL Share Price | 261.25 | +2.07 |
| Adani Ports Share Price | 1,144.35 | +1.71 |
Top losers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| Asian Paints Share Price | 2,275.20 | -3.36 |
| Titan Company Share Price | 3,490.90 | -2.97 |
| Nestle Share Price | 2,248.95 | -2.20 |
| HUL Share Price | 2,391.05 | -1.93 |
| Britannia Share Price | 4,932.65 | -1.90 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
Thangamayil Jewellery: Strong Q3 results but stock sheds early gains
- Stock jumped 8% intraday but pared gains post-results, reflecting some profit booking.
- Net sales for Q3 stood at ₹1,132.46 crore, marking a 26% YoY increase.
- Net profit surged 72% YoY to ₹48.19 crore, driven by better operating performance.
- EBITDA rose 63% YoY to ₹83.2 crore, indicating strong margins.
- The company announced a ₹510 crore rights issue, offering shares at ₹1,400 apiece in a 2:15 ratio. The record date for the issue is 11th February 2025, with the subscription period running from 21st February to 4th March 2025.
Despite these strong numbers, profit-taking led to a moderation in stock price gains by the end of the session.
Info Edge: Recruitment Business Fuels 20% Profit Growth
- Info Edge, the parent company of Naukri.com, saw standalone net profit rise by 20.3% YoY to ₹263 crore in Q3.
- Revenue climbed 13% YoY to ₹672 crore, driven by strong recruitment demand.
- The Naukri segment alone contributed ₹505 crore, reflecting a 12% YoY rise.
- On a consolidated basis, net profit was ₹722 crore (+15%), while operating revenue surged 22% to ₹3,182 crore.
- CEO Hitesh Oberoi noted 16% billing growth and improving profitability across non-recruitment verticals, indicating a balanced revenue mix.
With job markets remaining strong, Info Edge’s business is well-positioned for further gains.
Zydus Lifesciences: Strong Q3 Earnings Boost Market Confidence
- Net profit surged 30% YoY to ₹1,023 crore, outperforming expectations.
- Revenue grew 17% YoY to ₹5,269 crore, led by gains in India and the US markets.
- CEO Sharvil Patel credited the performance to market share gains in key therapy segments and strong execution in the US business.
- The company reaffirmed its double-digit growth target for FY25.
This solid performance helped Zydus maintain investor confidence, making it one of the day’s standout gainers.
Crude Oil: Inventory Rise Drags Prices Lower
Crude oil prices slipped following an unexpected increase in US inventories, dampening sentiment.
- Brent crude (April futures) dropped 0.50% to $75.82 per barrel.
- WTI crude (March futures) fell 0.33% to $72.46 per barrel.
- In India, MCX crude oil (February futures) declined 0.33% to ₹6,322, while March contracts were at ₹6,306 (-0.35%).
Why did crude prices fall?
- US crude inventories rose by 5.025 million barrels, much higher than the expected 2 million barrels.
- Higher inventories signal weak demand, weighing on global prices.
- Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions persisted, with Trump announcing stricter sanctions on Iran, potentially impacting supply.
What’s Next for Oil?
- Market participants await official data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) for further clarity.
- Any OPEC+ output adjustments could also influence prices in the coming weeks.
Conclusion
The Indian stock market saw profit booking in large caps, even as broader indices outperformed.
✔ Benchmark indices fell, dragged by FMCG, Auto, and Realty stocks.
✔ Thangamayil Jewellery delivered strong earnings but saw profit-taking post-results.
✔ Info Edge continued its growth trajectory, driven by recruitment demand.
✔ Zydus Lifesciences posted robust numbers, reinforcing investor confidence.
✔ Crude oil prices dropped on higher US inventories but geopolitical risks remain.
While today’s session reflected short-term volatility, the underlying fundamentals of key sectors remain strong. Investors should keep an eye on upcoming earnings reports, macroeconomic cues, and global market trends for further market direction.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
