Stock-Market-Today

What’s moving the markets? Global cues, earnings buzz & sector plays.


The Indian stock market shows a stable yet cautious performance today, July 21, 2025. After a weak closing last Friday, both the NSE Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex have opened higher. However, gains are limited due to mixed global cues and ongoing profit booking in heavyweight stocks.


Key Market Numbers (Midday)

Nifty 50 trades around 25,028 points, showing a small gain of 0.24%.

BSE Sensex is near 82,122 points, up by about 0.45%.

Nifty Bank Index, which tracks top banking stocks, jumps by 0.9%.

Mid-cap and small-cap indices are almost flat, showing little movement.

The IT index is slightly down by 0.3%, dragging the market.

Banking Sector Leads the Rally

Banking stocks are the major drivers of today’s gains. Big private banks are performing well after announcing strong earnings for the first quarter (Q1 FY26):

HDFC Bank rises by about 2%. Investors are happy with its strong Q1 results, where it showed growth in loans and profits.

ICICI Bank is up nearly 2.5% after reporting solid numbers over the weekend.

Both HDFC and ICICI Bank are among the most actively traded stocks today.

Bandhan Bank, however, drops nearly 4%. Its Q1 profits fell by over 60% due to high loan defaults in the microfinance sector.

Top Gainers and Losers

Gainers: Apart from the banks, stocks like Sona BLW have jumped over 3% after announcing their expansion into China’s electric vehicle market. Anthem Biosciences makes a strong stock market debut with a 27% premium over its IPO price.

Losers: Reliance Industries is down by around 2% as its oil and retail businesses reported weaker-than-expected performance. The stock is seeing some profit booking after recent gains.

Most Active Stocks Today

Stocks with the highest trading volume and value today include:

HDFC Bank

Reliance Industries

ICICI Bank

BSE Ltd

Axis Bank

Mastek

Dixon Technologies

Gujarat Mineral Development

AU Small Finance Bank

Tilaknagar Industries

These stocks have seen a lot of buying and selling, showing that investors are actively tracking them.

Global Factors Impacting Indian Markets

Mixed global signals are keeping Indian investors cautious. There is uncertainty about interest rate decisions in Europe and the US.

A possible trade deal between India and the US is creating some optimism. Negotiations are ongoing, with hopes of an agreement before the August 1 tariff deadline.

The GIFT Nifty (a tool that reflects global sentiment toward Indian markets) is slightly lower, hinting at caution.

Technical View of the Market

Last Friday, the Nifty 50 closed at 24,968, down by 143 points.

Today, it has managed to move back above 25,000, but the rise is slow.

Technical experts say the Nifty needs to cross 25,250 to confirm a strong recovery.

If the index slips below 24,900, it may drop further toward 24,500.

The FII (Foreign Institutional Investors) are selling heavily this month. They have pulled out over ₹10,000 crore from Indian markets in July. This continues to pressure the market, especially large-cap stocks.

SEBI and Regulatory Developments

India’s market regulator, SEBI, has allowed global trading firm Jane Street to resume trading after it fulfilled financial requirements.

This move brings relief to global investors and shows that SEBI is willing to work with foreign institutions while keeping transparency in check.

In other updates, Tuhin Kanta Pandey has taken over as SEBI’s new Chairperson, continuing the previous leadership’s reforms.

Market Strategy for the Day

Experts are suggesting a stock-specific strategy rather than a broad market approach.

Positive stocks recommended by analysts today include:

Nestlé India

ONGC

HDFC Asset Management

Dr. Reddy’s

HDFC Bank

ICICI Bank

These companies are either showing technical strength or have reported good earnings.

Commodities and Other Indicators

Gold prices remain steady. Investors are buying gold as a safe option due to uncertain global markets.

The energy and IT sectors are under some pressure today.

The auto and media sectors are doing slightly better, each gaining about 0.5%.

IPO Watch

Anthem Biosciences made its debut on the stock market today. It was listed at a price almost 27% higher than its IPO price, showing strong investor interest.

Several other IPOs are in the pipeline and are expected to hit the market in August.

Short-Term Market Outlook

Here’s what market watchers are focusing on in the coming days:

Corporate Earnings: More Q1 results will be released this week, which may drive stock-specific moves.

Global Central Banks: Interest rate decisions in Europe and the US will impact global fund flows into India.

Technical Levels: If Nifty holds above 25,000 and crosses 25,250, it may move higher. But if it falls below 24,900, there could be more downside.

FII Activity: Continued selling by foreign investors remains a concern. Any reversal in this trend could provide support to the market.

Monsoon and Rural Demand: The market is also watching rainfall data and its impact on agriculture, which affects rural demand and FMCG stocks.

Final Thoughts 

The Indian stock market is showing cautious optimism today. Strong earnings from banks like HDFC and ICICI are lifting the market mood. However, pressure from global factors and foreign selling continues to weigh on investor sentiment. Sectoral movement is mixed, and mid and small caps are quiet. The next few days are likely to be guided by earnings reports, global news, and key technical levels.

For now, traders and investors are advised to focus on quality stocks, follow the trend closely, and keep an eye on important support and resistance levels.