Nifty 50 Closes at 25,830 on Weekly Expiry; Bank Nifty Weak, Apollo Hospitals Block Deal in Focus
New Delhi, August 21, 2025 (The Market Times):
The Indian stock market ended Thursday’s session on a weak note as indices slipped on weekly expiry day. The Nifty 50 closed at 25,830, nearly 100 points below its intraday high, while Bank Nifty remained under selling pressure. Midcap and smallcap indices fell even more sharply, extending the negative market sentiment.
Advance-Decline Ratio Flat
Market breadth was nearly balanced with 1,381 stocks declining and 1,350 advancing. Gains in the morning session fizzled out by close as profit booking weighed on sentiment.
Global & FII Trends
- Global cues remained weak with European markets in red and GIFT Nifty down 27 points.
- FIIs sold equities worth ₹14 crore, while DIIs bought almost the same amount, resulting in negligible net inflow.
Top Gainers
- IDBI Bank jumped 13% on divestment buzz; analysts see potential towards 200 levels.
- Lemon Tree Hotels gained 7%.
- Tejas Networks and India Cements also traded strong.
Top Losers
- Ola Electric (Ola EIC) slipped 8% after a sharp 30% rally in recent sessions.
- BSE fell 7.5%.
- JEL One lost 7%.
- Carborundum Universal and JK Tyre were also under pressure.
Nifty & Bank Nifty Technical View
The Nifty 50 touched 25,150 intraday but faced resistance and closed near day’s lows. Immediate support lies around 25,050.
Bank Nifty continued its four-day consolidation with weakness, closing below key 20-day and 50-day EMAs, pointing to a bearish structure.
Key Sector & Stock Moves
- Apollo Hospitals: Promoter Sunita Reddy to sell 1.8 million shares worth ₹1,395 crore at ₹7,747 apiece, a 2.3% discount.
- TransRail: Won an order worth ₹837 crore, boosting its FY order book to ₹3,157 crore (57% YoY growth).
- Apollo Micro Systems: Secured a ₹25 crore defense order from DRDO/PSUs.
- Nazara Technologies: Declined after writing off investment in PokerBaazi due to regulatory tightening, though recovered from 200-day EMA support.
Policy & Macro Developments
- SEBI Expiry Reforms: A consultation paper on reducing weekly expiries is expected soon. As per Cross Seas Capital Services, NSE and BSE could see a 35–60% revenue hit if expiries are curtailed.
- GST Rationalisation: Reports suggest GST may shift to just two slabs — 5% and 18%, with 40% on ultra-luxury goods. Entry and mid-segment cars may benefit, aiding automakers such as Maruti Suzuki and M&M.
Market Outlook
While auto and defense names such as Maruti, Bajaj Auto, and Apollo Micro Systems showed resilience, the overall tone remained weak. ITC closed at ₹406, extending its four-session losing streak.
Analysts expect volatility to remain high as investors await clarity on SEBI’s expiry reforms, GST changes, and global cues.
