Nifty and Sensex Extend Gains for 4th Session, Hit 52-Week High

Market Update at 4:00 PM: On Monday, October 20, Indian equity benchmark indices extended gains for the fourth consecutive session, with the Nifty 50 and Sensex hitting 52-week highs. The rally was led by index heavyweight Reliance Industries following its strong Q2 results. The Nifty 50 rose by 133.30 points, or 0.52 per cent, to settle at 25,843.15, while the Sensex gained 411.18 points, or 0.49 per cent, ending at 84,363.37. Both indices remain around 2 per cent below their record highs. Meanwhile, India’s volatility index, India VIX, fell more than 2 per cent during the session.

Seven out of 11 sectors closed in positive territory. The Banking sector led the gains, with the Bank Nifty and Nifty Financial Services index hitting lifetime highs after HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank posted their Quarterly Results on Saturday. Broader markets outperformed the frontline indices, with Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices ending higher.

Reliance Industries shares rose 3.5 per cent to a three-month high, supported by a strong core performance in Q2. HDFC Bank hit an all-time high following robust quarterly earnings. Punjab National Bank shares rose 3.8 per cent after reporting higher second-quarter profits, aided by steady loan growth and improving asset quality.

The Nifty PSU Bank index climbed 2.87 per cent, marking its largest Intraday gain since May 30 and reaching a 52-week high. The rally was led by the State Bank of India, which hit a new all-time high and saw its market capitalisation surpass Rs 8 lakh crore, overtaking HDFC Bank. In contrast, the Nifty Auto index declined 0.16 per cent, with Mahindra & Mahindra falling more than 1 per cent.

Key contributors to Nifty gains included Reliance Industries (+75.41 points), Bharti Airtel (+22.58 points), and Infosys (+16.96 points). Stocks weighing on the index were ICICI Bank (-67.83 points), Mahindra & Mahindra (-9.76 points), and Eternal Enterprises (-6.38 points).

The broader market indices ended on a positive note. The Mid-Cap 100 index rose 0.75 per cent, while the Small-Cap 100 increased 0.46 per cent. Market breadth was positive, with 1,884 advancing stocks, 1,244 declining, and 106 unchanged out of 3,234 stocks traded on the NSE. A total of 95 stocks touched their 52-week highs, while 98 hit their 52-week lows. Additionally, 98 stocks were locked in Upper Circuits, and 59 in Lower Circuits.

Market Update at 12:30 PM: Indian stock markets witnessed strong momentum on the occasion of Diwali 2025, as benchmark indices rallied over half a per cent on Dalal Street. The upbeat sentiment continued through the afternoon session with buying interest seen across major sectors.

At 12 PM, the BSE Sensex was at 84,400.48, up 448 points or 0.53 per cent, while the NSE Nifty50 advanced 139 points or 0.54 per cent to trade at 25,849. The rally was driven by gains in heavyweight stocks such as Reliance Industries, which climbed over 3 per cent to emerge as the top gainer on the Sensex.

Other notable gainers included Bajaj Finserv, Infosys, Axis Bank, TCS, and State Bank of India, which rose up to 2 per cent each. On the downside, ICICI Bank declined 2.2 per cent as investors booked profits following its Q2 results, while Ultratech Cement and M&M also traded lower.

Among broader indices, the Nifty Midcap 100 rose 1.02 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 0.1 per cent. The Bank Nifty index hit a new record high, rising 0.7 per cent during the session.

On the sectoral front, Nifty PSU Bank led the gains with a rise of over 2 per cent, followed by Nifty IT and oil & gas indices, which were up more than 1 per cent each.

Market Update at 9:30 AM: Indian stock markets saw strong gains on Dalal Street on the occasion of Diwali 2025, as benchmark indices opened with significant upward momentum. The BSE Sensex rose 661 points or 0.8 per cent to trade at 84,614, while the Nifty 50 gained 191 points or 0.74 per cent to trade at 25,901 in early trade.

Kotak Mahindra Bank, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and the Bajaj twins were the Top Gainers on the Sensex, rising up to 3 per cent. In contrast, ICICI Bank was the top loser, down 2.2 per cent, as investors booked profits following its Q2 results. Ultratech Cement and Mahindra & Mahindra were other notable decliners.

In the broader markets, the Nifty MidCap index increased 0.66 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index edged up 0.19 per cent. The Bank Nifty index hit fresh record highs, rising 0.7 per cent, reflecting strong buying in the banking sector.

Other sectoral indices were also in the green, led by the Nifty IT, Private Bank, and Pharma indices, each gaining 0.7 per cent.

Pre-Market Update at 7:35 AM: Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 are likely to open on a positive note on Monday, October 20, tracking gains in global markets. Investors’ attention will be on the quarterly results of Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank, announced over the weekend, which are expected to set the direction for the broader market.

Trends on the GIFT Nifty indicate a firm start for Indian equities, with the index trading 65 points higher at 25,983 around 7:10 AM. Asian markets were in the green during early trade, led by Japanese stocks, while US markets ended higher last week.

During the week, market participants will closely monitor developments in U.S.-China trade discussions, progress on the proposed India-U.S. trade agreement, the upcoming batch of Q2 corporate results, foreign portfolio investment (FPI) flows, and key domestic as well as global macroeconomic data.

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that talks on the proposed India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement are progressing cordially, emphasising that no agreement will be finalised until the interests of India’s farmers, fishermen, and MSME sector are safeguarded.

On Friday, October 17, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers for the third consecutive session, purchasing equities worth Rs 308.98 crore. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were also net buyers, adding Rs 1,526.61 crore worth of equities, marking their 38th straight session of buying.

Indian markets extended gains for the third consecutive session on Friday. The Nifty 50 rose 124.55 points (0.49 per cent) to 25,709.85, and the Sensex gained 484.53 points (0.58 per cent) to 83,952.19. India VIX increased nearly 7 per cent, indicating higher volatility expectations. Both indices advanced 1.7 per cent for the week, marking their strongest weekly gain in 16 weeks and the third straight week of positive closing. Among sectors, six out of eleven ended higher, with Bank Nifty and Nifty Financial Services hitting lifetime highs. The Nifty IT index declined 1.63 per cent, impacted by margin concerns at Wipro and Infosys, while midcap and small-cap indices closed lower.

US markets ended higher on Friday as investor sentiment improved amid easing concerns over credit markets and optimism about trade talks with China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 238 points (0.52 per cent), while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each climbed about 0.53 per cent and 0.52 per cent, respectively. Volatility eased, with the VIX falling 15 per cent, after President Donald Trump signaled a positive tone toward China, saying, “I think we’re doing very well” and “I think we’re getting along with China.”

President Trump stated that the proposed 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports would not be sustainable long-term. He expressed optimism about maintaining positive relations with President Xi Jinping during their upcoming meeting in South Korea in the next two weeks.

China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged for the fifth consecutive month in October. The one-year Loan Prime Rate stands at 3.0 per cent, while the five-year rate remains at 3.5 per cent.

Gold prices edged lower as easing U.S.-China trade tensions reduced the metal’s safe-haven appeal. Spot gold was down 0.1 per cent at USD 4,245.39 per ounce. President Trump remarked that the U.S. would “do fine with China” and added that the proposed 100 per cent levy on Chinese imports, slated for November, would not be sustainable.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the currency against six global counterparts, was flat at 98.53 on Monday but had declined 0.43 per cent last week. Crude oil prices remained under pressure, with WTI futures at USD 57.3 per barrel and Brent futures at USD 61.1 per barrel, near six-month lows due to concerns over global oversupply.

For today, Sammaan Capital and RBL Bank will remain on the F&O ban list.

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.