Sensex-Slips-90-Points-to-82,544;-Ixigo-Surges

Tech Mahindra slips after weak Q1 results, while midcaps and renewables shine

The Indian stock market opens on a cautious note on July 17, 2025. The major indices, Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex, move within a narrow range as investors wait for clearer signals from global markets and upcoming quarterly earnings. Most sectors trade flat or show selective movement. Despite some gains in energy, consumer durables, and realty stocks, selling pressure appears in information technology, banks, and media companies.

Major Index Performance

The Nifty 50 trades around 25,205 to 25,212 levels. It shows minor losses in early trade, continuing its flat performance from the previous day. On July 16, the index closed at 25,212.05, up just 0.06 percent. The BSE Sensex also shows little momentum. It hovers between 82,533 and 82,635, down 0.11 percent after ending at 82,634.48 in the previous session.

Mid-cap and small-cap stocks perform better than large-cap names. Mid-cap indices gain around 0.3 to 0.5 percent, reflecting stronger interest in second-tier stocks. GIFT Nifty, which acts as a global indicator of Indian equities, trades around 25,265 to 25,271, showing a small premium over Nifty 50, signaling a neutral to slightly positive trend.

Market Sentiment and Influences

Investor mood remains cautious. Global markets offer little direction as the US Federal Reserve's policy outlook remains uncertain. Tensions grow around Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s political position, which adds to volatility in global bonds and equities. Asian markets trade lower, and Indian markets follow that trend.

Back home, investors are watching closely for updates on the India–US trade agreement. While early statements are hopeful, no formal deal is in place yet. Markets wait for actual policy announcements before reacting decisively.

The domestic volatility index (India VIX) drops by around 2 percent, showing that fear levels in the market are under control. However, this also reflects indecisiveness among investors.

Sectoral Overview


Information Technology (IT)

Tech stocks face pressure after Tech Mahindra reports weak earnings. The company posts a net profit of ₹1,141 crore for the first quarter, which is lower than market expectations. Revenues also fall short of estimates. As a result, Tech Mahindra falls around 1.5 percent. Other IT stocks also remain under pressure, dragging the overall IT index lower by 0.5 to 0.7 percent.

Banking and Financials

State Bank of India (SBI) launches a large Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) worth ₹25,000 crore to raise funds. This makes headlines in the financial sector. However, the banking index stays mostly flat due to weakness in other PSU bank stocks.

HDFC Bank trades with minor gains of around 0.05 percent. Trading volumes for the stock rise above the 50-day average, showing interest from institutional investors despite a lack of big news.

Private banks like ICICI Bank and Axis Bank trade with mixed signals. Axis Bank is in focus ahead of its quarterly results, due later this week.

Auto and Metals

Auto stocks trade weak. News about Tesla’s possible manufacturing plans in India causes speculation, but auto stocks like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra fall around 1 percent. Investors remain cautious about electric vehicle developments and government policy clarity.

Metal stocks decline due to a strong US dollar, which puts pressure on commodity prices. The metal index slips about 0.8 percent as investors book profits in stocks like Hindalco and Tata Steel.

Other Sector Highlights

Real Estate and Consumer Durables sectors trade in positive territory. Improving urban demand and cooling inflation help these sectors recover.

Energy and Infrastructure stocks also gain slightly as public sector undertakings (PSUs) attract buying interest.

Media stocks and pharmaceutical companies trade with low volume and weak sentiment.

Stock-Specific Highlights

Several stocks move sharply due to company-specific news.

Ixigo (Le Travenues Technology) jumps over 11 percent to a 52-week high after strong quarterly profits. The company shows good growth in travel bookings and earnings.

Kalpataru Projects gains after announcing ₹2,293 crore worth of new project orders in the power and infrastructure segments.

Waaree Renewable Technologies rallies nearly 30 percent following strong earnings and rising demand for solar projects.

Maruti Suzuki and Eicher Motors slip due to concerns about rising input costs and flat sales growth in premium segments.

Global and Macro Trends

A recent Bank of America survey shows that India falls to fourth place among the most preferred equity markets in Asia. Global fund managers are cautious about Indian equities due to high valuations and limited upside in benchmark indices.

Still, India remains a long-term favorite among emerging markets due to stable macro indicators and policy reforms. However, fresh inflows into Indian stocks may depend on how earnings and global trends evolve in the coming weeks.

Silver prices spike past ₹1.14 lakh per kilogram, and some analysts suggest it may cross ₹1.4 to ₹2 lakh/kg in coming quarters if global demand and investment interest stay strong. Gold prices, however, remain flat.

Earnings Season in Focus

The current week is crucial for corporate earnings. Many large companies are set to announce results, including:

Axis Bank

Wipro

Jio Financial Services

LTI Mindtree

Indian Hotels

HDFC Asset Management

Strong results may lift market sentiment, while any major disappointments can trigger sell-offs. Investors are also watching management commentary to understand future growth plans.

What to Expect Next

Going forward, the Indian market is likely to stay in a narrow range unless major global or domestic events trigger movement. Key factors that will influence market direction include:

Federal Reserve policy signals and updates on interest rates.

India–US trade negotiations, especially any formal agreements or tariff decisions.

Quarterly results from key companies.

Global equity trends, especially in the US and Asia.

Until then, market participants prefer selective stock picking rather than taking large bets. Volatility may rise again if foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) change their stance or if geopolitical tensions flare up.

Final Thoughts

The Indian stock market remains in a wait-and-watch mode on July 17, 2025. While some sectors show signs of recovery, broader market sentiment remains muted due to global uncertainty and cautious earnings outlook. Key indices move sideways, reflecting indecision. Market direction in the near term depends heavily on corporate earnings, central bank policies, and international trade developments.

Investors focus on quality stocks and sectors with strong fundamentals. Mid-cap and renewable energy stocks gain popularity. The next few sessions will be critical in setting the tone for the rest of the earnings season and shaping the overall market trend.