Market Update Today: Nifty 50 Holds Above 25,000; Global Sentiment Remains Positive
Friday, 22nd August 2025 — Last trading session of the week
Indian equity markets opened on a positive note in today’s session. Gift Nifty is trading above 25,000, up by 23.5 points, reflecting strong momentum. Asian markets are showing positive cues, while Dow Jones futures are also up by nearly 35 points, signaling optimism across global markets.
Despite favorable global and domestic news, Nifty 50 continues to move gradually upward without sharp momentum.
Nifty 50 and Bank Nifty Performance
- Nifty 50 gained 33 points and closed at 25,084.
- Bank Nifty added nearly 57 points but is still struggling to break the crucial 56,000 resistance level.
- Overall, Nifty 50 has risen nearly 300 points in recent sessions, but the rally remains slow and steady.
- Previous resistance of 24,800 is now acting as a strong support zone, keeping the index range-bound within 300 points.
Top Gainers & Losers (F&O Segment)
Top Gainers:
- Sun Pharma (+3%)
- Dr. Reddy’s (+2.5%)
- Bajaj Finserv, ICICI Bank also among top gainers.
Top Losers:
- Coal India (–2%)
- Bajaj Auto (–0.5%)
- Tata Consumers, Power Grid also featured in the losers list.
Commodities Update
- Gold is trading around ₹99,400.
- Silver is steady near ₹13,000.
- Crude oil gained 1.5% yesterday, while Natural Gas surged nearly 4%.
- Overall, commodities remain range-bound with no major movement in precious metals.
Currency Market
The Indian Rupee weakened further, falling to ₹87.26 per US Dollar.
- Slight strength was seen against the Japanese Yen.
- Weakness continued against the US Dollar and the British Pound.
Institutional Activity & Market Sentiment
- FIIs bought shares worth ₹1,426 crore.
- DIIs purchased shares worth ₹12,546 crore.
However, most of this buying was linked to a large block deal in Clean Science, which inflated the numbers. - Volatility Index (VIX) fell from 11.78 to 11.37, indicating reduced market volatility.
- Put-Call Ratio (PCR) dropped from 1.28 to 1.09, suggesting a range-bound market in the near term.
Key Corporate Updates
- Vedanta Dividend: Declares ₹16 per share dividend, totaling ₹256 crore, record date set for 27th August. Vedanta continues to offer one of the highest dividend yields (5–8%) in India.
- Wipro Acquisition: Wipro has signed an agreement to acquire Harman (a Samsung company) to strengthen its AI, digital transformation, and engineering R&D capabilities.
- Hindustan Unilever (HUL): After its CEO change, HUL stock has been trending upward. A new CFO appointment is expected, which could further impact investor sentiment.
- Eternal Ltd.: Incorporated a new subsidiary Blinket Foods, focused on quick food delivery business, inspired by Blinkit’s 10-minute commerce model.
- Titagarh Rail: Secured an order worth ₹467 crore from GRSE to build two new ships.
- SJVN: Synchronized 660 MW of its Buxar Thermal Plant with the national grid, ensuring consistent power supply and revenue realization.
- Texmaco Rail: Won a new ₹103 crore wagon order, to be delivered within 10 months.
- Clean Science Block Deal: Promoters sold 24% stake, which was absorbed by institutions like Bajaj Allianz, Norges Bank, SBI MF, Nippon MF.
IPO & Fundraising News
- Multiple IPOs opening today including Insulations, Andita Medicare, Classic Electrodes, Shivashakti Foods.
- GMR Power fundraising plans remain in focus.
Stock-Specific Updates
- Apollo Hospitals: Promoter Sunita Reddy is offloading stake at a 2.3% discount, which may put short-term pressure on the stock price.
- RBL Bank, PG Electroplast (PGEL) among stocks currently under F&O ban.
Conclusion
The market remains positive but range-bound, with 25,200 acting as a strong resistance for Nifty 50 and 24,800 now acting as support. With low volatility and stable institutional flows, investors should not expect any major crash in the immediate term but should stay cautious around resistance levels.
