- Sensex rebounds 287 points led by large caps and Realty stocks, USDINR hits record highs market sentiment stays cautious.
The Indian equity market staged a notable recovery on 5 December 2025, with the Sensex closing 287.28 points higher at 85,552.60, up 0.34% for the day. This rebound came after a shaky start in which the index fell 139.84 points at the open, before clawing back losses on the back of solid buying in large-cap stocks and a strong showing in the Realty sector.
Despite the positive close, market breadth remained weak, underscoring a cautious undertone. More sectors declined than advanced, and mid and small-cap indices failed to mirror the strength seen in blue chips.
Sensex and Nifty Trends: Large Caps Lead as Indices Hold Key Levels
The Sensex is now just 0.71% below its 52-week high of 86,159.02, signalling that the broader uptrend remains intact. The 50-day moving average staying above the 200-day moving average reinforces a constructive medium-term setup. Nifty followed a similar pattern, supported by strength in index heavyweights as investors gravitated toward stability.
While the large-cap index gained 0.34%, the mid-cap index slipped 0.01%, and small caps dropped 0.52%, highlighting a continued appetite for safety and liquidity over high-beta pockets of the market.
Realty Sector Outperforms as Media Stocks Extend Losses
Sectoral performance was mixed:
- Realty emerged as the top gainer, jumping 1.07%, supported by improving demand expectations and institutional rotation into property-linked counters.
- Media stocks fell 0.64%, making it the weakest sector of the day amid earnings concerns and profit-taking.
- Financial services and consumer discretionary names saw mild gains.
- Defensive sectors like FMCG experienced selling pressure, consistent with the risk-on tone in large caps.
Out of the 38 BSE sectors, 16 advanced while 22 declined, showing that despite the headline recovery, participation remains selective.
Small Caps Under Pressure as Market Breadth Weakens
The BSE 500 advance-decline ratio stood at 0.56, with 179 stocks rising and 318 declining, illustrating a narrow-market rally dominated by large caps, as reported by MarketsMojo.
- BSE 100 gained 0.28%
- Mid-caps were nearly flat
- Small caps slid 0.52%, reflecting risk aversion in broader segments
Top Gainers and Losers Today Across Large, Mid, and Small Caps
According to MarketsMojo’s BSE 500 performance data, M&M Financial Services led the gainers with a 4.15% jump, followed by Wockhardt at 3.05% and Himadri Speciality Chemicals at 2.61%. Among large caps, Bajaj Finance stood out with a 2.22% gain.
On the downside, Kaynes Technology dropped 5.50%, Hindustan Unilever fell 4.31%, and A B Real Estate declined 4.13%. The sharpest fall came from Hindustan Construction, which plunged 20.74%, highlighting stress within select small-cap names.
Meanwhile, one small-cap from the Auto–Trucks segment triggered fresh short-term momentum signals, indicating early-stage accumulation despite broader weakness.
Flows and Global Cues: Mixed Signals Keep Investors Cautious
Institutional flows played a key role in today’s rebound. While exact FII/DII numbers were not disclosed, large-cap strength and selective buying in Realty and financials point toward accumulation from institutional desks.
Globally, US and European indices posted mild gains, while Asian markets remained steady as investors assessed ongoing economic data and central bank commentary. These global cues contributed both to the early volatility and the recovery later in the day.
Bajaj Finance Emerges as Key Driver Behind Sensex Rebound
Bajaj Finance, a major index heavyweight, rose 2.22%, providing meaningful support to the Sensex. Its strength aligns with renewed interest in financials driven by steady credit demand, stable asset quality expectations, and continued institutional preference for high-quality lenders.
Conclusion: Sensex Stays Strong, But Participation Remains Narrow
The Sensex’s ability to bounce back and close higher despite weak breadth reinforces the dominance of large caps in the current market environment. Realty strength, stable global cues, and institutional buying helped offset pressure from mid and small caps.
From my perspective, the market still feels hesitant beneath the surface. The headline index looks healthy, but the lack of broader participation is a reminder that confidence hasn’t fully returned. Until mid and small caps show signs of steady accumulation, large-cap leadership is likely to continue driving the narrative. For now, sticking with quality and selectively tracking early momentum names seems like the most sensible approach.
The Sensex opened weak due to mixed global cues, profit booking in large caps, and pressure from metals and financials. Sentiment also turned cautious after USD/INR hit a fresh record high above 90, adding currency-related volatility to equities.
A rebound is possible if large-cap stocks continue attracting institutional buying. The index is still holding above key moving averages, but a sustained recovery depends on global trends and stability in the rupee after USD/INR’s breakout.
Traders are tracking FII flows, sector rotation into Realty and financials, and the impact of the record-weak rupee on market sentiment. Volatility may rise if USD/INR extends its move above 90 or if global risk appetite softens.
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