Sensex, Nifty Drift Sideways as Focus Turns Stock-Specific

By siliconindia  |  Friday, 19 December 2025, 10:13:37 AM IST

Sensex, Nifty Drift Sideways as Focus Turns Stock-Specific
  • Sensex and Nifty close marginally lower as markets remain in consolidation mode.
  • IT shows strength, while energy, auto, and pharma face selling pressure.
  • Corporate deals, stake sales, and F&O inclusions keep select stocks in focus.
Indian equity markets ended Thursday’s session largely unchanged, as investors stayed cautious in the absence of fresh triggers and clarity on near-term cues. Both benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 moved in a narrow range throughout the day, reflecting a market that is consolidating after recent gains.
The Sensex slipped 78 points, or 0.09 percent, to close at 84,481.81, while the Nifty 50 edged down just 3 points, or 0.01 percent, to settle at 25,815.55. Broader markets showed mixed trends, with the BSE Midcap index gaining a marginal 0.05 percent, while the Smallcap index declined 0.28 percent, highlighting selective investor participation.
Market sentiment remained cautious from the opening bell. After a muted start, the Nifty attempted a brief recovery in the first half of the session but failed to hold higher levels. As the day progressed, selling pressure resurfaced, pushing the index back into negative territory by the close.
Ajit Mishra, Senior Vice President-Research at Religare Broking Ltd, said markets continued their consolidation phase. He noted that sectoral trends were mixed, with weakness seen in energy, auto, and pharma stocks, while IT stocks showed relative strength. Financials and metals saw selective buying, and broader markets remained volatile but managed to end flat, reflecting a stock-specific approach by investors.
Despite the flat close, several stocks are expected to remain in focus on Friday following key corporate developments announced after market hours.
Ola Electric Mobility is likely to attract attention after promoter Bhavish Aggarwal sold an additional 2.83 crore shares through a bulk deal. The shares were sold at Rs 31.60 apiece, taking the transaction value to Rs 90.27 crore. This marked the third consecutive session of stake sale by the promoter.
Shares of Swiggy, Waaree Energies, Premier Energies, and Bajaj Holdings & Investment are also expected to be active after the NSE announced their inclusion in the Futures & Options (F&O) segment, effective December 31. Entry into the derivatives segment often increases trading volumes and investor interest.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Coal India will be in focus after BPCL’s board approved the formation of a joint venture with Coal India to set up a coal gasification project at Western Coalfields in Maharashtra, subject to regulatory approvals.
IT major HCL Tech announced an agreement to acquire the telecommunications solutions business of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), a move expected to strengthen its capabilities in the telecom domain.
Bharti Airtel said its board has approved the first and final call of Rs 401.25 per share on its partly paid-up equity shares, including a premium of ₹397.50, covering over 39 crore shares.
Shriram Finance informed exchanges that its board will meet on Friday to consider raising capital through a possible stake sale.
Vodafone Idea said its subsidiary VITIL has raised Rs 3,300 crore through the issuance of secured, unlisted non-convertible debentures.
Reliance Industries’ FMCG arm acquired a controlling stake in Udhaiyam Agro Foods, adding the Tamil Nadu-based nutrition brand to its portfolio.
Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail disclosed a tax demand order issued by the Mumbai State Tax authority, while Lupin announced an exclusive licensing deal to market the gastro brand Plasil in the Philippines and Brazil.
Overall, markets remain range-bound, with investors closely tracking stock-specific developments amid a lack of broader cues.

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