Indian equity markets witnessed a sharp downturn on Monday, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 extending losses for the third straight session amid broad-based selling pressure, led by the banking and IT sectors.
The BSE Sensex closed 572.07 points lower at 80,891.02, while the Nifty 50 slipped 156.10 points to end at 24,680.90, breaking below the key psychological level of 24,700.
Market sentiment remained subdued due to weak global cues, rising Brent crude oil prices, disappointing quarterly earnings, and a spike in market volatility.
| Index | Close | Change (pts) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensex | 80,891.02 | -572.07 | -0.70% |
| Nifty 50 | 24,680.90 | -156.10 | -0.63% |
| Nifty Bank | 56,528.90 | -537.15 | -0.94% |
| Nifty IT | 35,623.75 | -512.05 | -1.42% |
| Nifty Midcap | 58,009.45 | -951.25 | -1.61% |
| Nifty Smallcap | 8,828.85 | -186.10 | -2.06% |
One of the session’s biggest drags was Bajaj Finance, whose shares tanked 3.64% to close at ₹880.40. Despite posting a 22% YoY rise in Net Interest Income (₹10,227 crore), the figure missed analyst expectations by nearly 19%.
Adding to the pressure was the sudden exit of Managing Director Anup Kumar Saha after just four months, raising governance concerns. The board reinstated Rajeev Jain as MD.
“The market punished Bajaj Finance more for the miss against expectations than the absolute growth. Leadership concerns only added to the stock’s weakness,” said a senior analyst at a Mumbai-based brokerage.
The Nifty Bank index saw sharp declines as several frontline banks posted disappointing earnings:
The IT sector also faced selling pressure after reports of job cuts at TCS, dragging the Nifty IT index down by 1.42%. TCS shares fell nearly 2%.
Sectoral performance was largely negative:
However, pharmaceutical and FMCG stocks bucked the trend, showing defensive strength.
Stocks like Cipla (+2.60%), Asian Paints (+1.00%), and HUL (+1.23%) were among the few notable gainers.
Of the 4,299 stocks traded on the BSE, 2,881 declined, while only 1,256 advanced — reflecting the deeply negative breadth.
The India VIX, which measures expected near-term volatility, surged 7%, continuing a three-day upward trend and signaling rising investor anxiety.
| Stock | Price (₹) | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sterlite Technologies | 126.85 | +8.42% |
| Laurus Labs | 888.70 | +6.04% |
| Eclerx Services | 3,765.50 | +3.29% |
| Shriram Finance | 633.10 | +2.89% |
| Cipla | 1,570.95 | +2.60% |
| Hero Motocorp | 4,293.85 | +1.53% |
| Asian Paints | 2,358.95 | +1.00% |
| HUL | 2,444.90 | +1.23% |
| Stock | Price (₹) | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Kotak Mahindra Bank | 1,968.70 | -7.34% |
| Bajaj Finance | 880.40 | -3.64% |
| Bharti Airtel | 1,889.90 | -2.48% |
| Tech Mahindra | — | -2.45% |
| Titan Company | 3,385.00 | -2.25% |
| Adani Enterprises | — | -2.24% |
| Power Grid Corpn | — | -2.42% |
| Infosys | — | -2.37% |
The Nifty is now trading below its 20-day and 50-day exponential moving averages, signaling a strong downtrend. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has dipped below 40 — a bearish indicator not seen since April 2025.
“The technicals show that the selling may not be over. There’s no strong support until the 24,300–24,400 zone,” noted a technical analyst.
Global markets provided little support, with Asian indices like Nikkei and Kospi falling amid concerns over slowing global demand. Meanwhile, Brent crude prices surged past $89/barrel, raising inflation worries for India.
Looking ahead, markets will closely track:
The July 28 session reinforced the ongoing risk-off sentiment in Indian markets, driven by a mix of earnings disappointments, leadership concerns, and macro uncertainties. With financials under pressure and volatility on the rise, investors appear to be rotating towards defensive plays like pharma and FMCG.
Until key global and domestic triggers are resolved, markets are likely to remain volatile, and caution will dominate investor behavior.
This article was originally published on InvestingCube.com. Republishing without permission is prohibited.
This post was last modified on Jul 29, 2025, 05:29 BST 05:29