IT Stocks Push Nifty Past 25,000; Sensex, Nifty Extend Winning Streak to 5 Sessions

Market Update at 4:15 PM: On Wednesday, August 20, Indian equity markets extended their winning streak to five consecutive trading sessions, with the Nifty 50 reclaiming the 25,000 mark. The rally was largely driven by IT and FMCG stocks, while broader markets also ended in the green. Investors remained watchful ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium scheduled for August 21–23.

At the closing bell, the Nifty 50 rose 69.90 points or 0.28 per cent to settle at 25,050.55. The Sensex advanced 213.46 points or 0.26 per cent to close at 81,857.58. The Nifty IT index emerged as the top sectoral gainer, climbing 2.69 per cent, supported by buying in Large-Cap stocks like Infosys and Mphasis. Infosys alone added 47.06 points to the index after its share price jumped 3.9 per cent.

Six out of eleven key sectoral indices ended in positive territory. The Nifty FMCG index rose 1.3 per cent, marking its third consecutive session of gains. The index has advanced 3.6 per cent in three sessions amid optimism over proposed GST reforms, where a potential reduction in GST on FMCG and processed food items from 12 per cent to 5 per cent could support demand and margins. Emami gained 4.06 per cent, while Britannia, Colgate, and Marico rose over 3 per cent each. On the downside, the Nifty Media index fell 1.98 per cent, becoming the worst-performing sector of the day.

Among individual stocks, Bharti Airtel gained 1 per cent after the company withdrew its entry-level 1 GB/day plan. Nazara Technologies plunged over 12 per cent after the cabinet cleared the bill to regulate online gaming platforms, weighing on sentiment around the stock. Aditya Infotech was locked in a 10 per cent upper circuit after reporting a 46 per cent year-on-year surge in Q1 PAT, reflecting strong Quarterly Results.

Top contributors to Nifty’s gains included Infosys (+47.06 points), TCS (+18.75 points), and Hindustan Unilever (+12.43 points). On the flip side, Reliance Industries (-10.45 points), ICICI Bank (-9.37 points), and Bajaj Finance (-8.37 points) acted as drags.

Broader indices maintained positive momentum, with the Nifty Midcap 100 rising 0.46 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 adding 0.30 per cent. Market breadth was tilted towards the bulls, as out of 3,061 stocks traded on the NSE, 1,712 advanced, 1,263 declined, and 86 remained unchanged. A total of 81 stocks touched 52-week highs, while 26 stocks hit 52-week lows. In addition, 123 stocks were locked in their upper circuits, while 43 were stuck in lower circuits, showing selective momentum in Small-Cap and Mid-Cap segments.

Market Update at 12:15 PM: Indian benchmark indices extended their winning streak on Wednesday, marking the fourth straight session of gains amid positive market triggers.

As of 12 PM, the BSE Sensex was trading at Rs 81,840.35, up by 195.96 points or 0.24 per cent. The NSE Nifty50 was quoted at Rs 25,036.85, higher by 55.95 points or 0.22 per cent. This steady momentum reflects sustained buying interest across large-cap and mid-cap stocks, with investors keeping an eye on upcoming quarterly results, dividend announcements, and sectoral trends.

Among the Sensex constituents, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Steel, and Eternal were the leading gainers, indicating strong interest in IT and FMCG counters. On the other hand, Bajaj Finance, Tata Motors, BEL, Trent, ICICI Bank, and Bajaj Finserv were among the laggards, weighing slightly on overall gains.

In the broader market, the Nifty Midcap100 index rose 0.39 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap100 index gained 0.2 per cent, highlighting continued investor participation in small-cap and mid-cap segments./

Sector-wise, performance was mixed. Nifty IT and FMCG indices advanced, supported by buying in frontline IT firms and consumer majors. However, Nifty Media and Pharma indices traded under pressure, reflecting selective profit booking.

Market Update at 10:30 AM: India’s equity benchmarks opened flat on Wednesday, pausing after two consecutive sessions of gains supported by optimism over possible tax cuts. The Nifty 50 was down 0.06 per cent at 24,965.8 points, while the BSE Sensex gained 0.03 per cent to 81,671.47, as of 9:15 a.m. IST.

Market performance was mixed, with ten of the 16 major sectors declining, although the losses remained marginal. Broader indices showed resilience as small-caps (SMALLCAP) rose 0.2 per cent, while mid-caps (MIDCAP) traded flat. Analysts noted that investors continue to track opportunities in both small-cap and large-cap segments, particularly in stocks with potential for multibagger returns over the long term.

In the global context, Asian markets slipped, with the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index losing 1.2 per cent. The decline followed a tech sell-off on Wall Street, where investors pulled back from high-valuation technology stocks. Meanwhile, Indian investors are also keeping an eye on upcoming quarterly results, IPO activity, and developments around dividend announcements and right issues, which could drive sector-specific momentum.

Attention remains fixed on the U.S. Federal Reserve’s annual Jackson Hole symposium, scheduled for August 21–23 in Wyoming. Most market participants are expecting a 25-basis-point rate cut next month. However, concerns around tariffs and global trade are adding caution to investor sentiment.

Pre-Market Update at 7:30 AM: On Wednesday, August 20, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 are expected to open lower, tracking weakness in global markets. As of 7:17 AM, the GIFT Nifty was trading near 24,960, down 51 points from its previous close.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers on Tuesday, August 19, offloading equities worth Rs 634.26 crore. In contrast, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) extended their buying momentum, purchasing shares worth Rs 2,261.06 crore. This marked the 31st consecutive trading session of DII inflows, providing support to large-cap and mid-cap stocks.

Indian equity markets closed higher on Tuesday with support from Reliance Industries and auto stocks, aided by expectations of demand push from proposed GST reductions. The Nifty 50 ended up 0.42 per cent at 24,980.65, while the BSE Sensex rose 0.46 per cent to 81,644.39. Broader indices also gained, with the Nifty Smallcap advancing 0.7 per cent and the Nifty Midcap rising 1 per cent.

China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged for the third straight month in August. The one-year Loan Prime Rate (LPR) remained at 3.0 per cent and the five-year LPR at 3.5 per cent, indicating policy continuity.

India and China agreed to restart direct flight services, reopen border trade at three points, and ease visa procedures. The move is aimed at boosting bilateral trade, investment, and travel.

Japan’s exports contracted for the third month in a row, falling 2.6 per cent year-on-year in July, higher than expectations of a 2.1 per cent fall. Imports declined 7.5 per cent, less than the projected 10.4 per cent drop. The trade balance showed a deficit of 117.5 billion yen (USD 795.4 million) compared with expectations of a surplus.

US markets ended mixed on Tuesday. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 1.46 per cent to 21,314.95, while the S&P 500 fell 0.59 per cent to 6,411.37. Nvidia dropped 3.5 per cent, its sharpest decline in nearly four months, dragging large-cap technology stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended almost flat, up 10.45 points at 44,922.27. Investor attention now shifts to the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole conference (August 21–23), where remarks from Chair Jerome Powell are expected to give clarity on future interest rate cuts.

The US Dollar Index rose to 98.393, its highest since August 12. Gold prices fell 0.1 per cent to USD 3,312.79 per ounce, touching a three-week low. Crude oil prices moved higher, with Brent above USD 66 per barrel and WTI crossing USD 62 per barrel, after industry data showed a larger-than-expected fall in US crude inventories.

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