Indian equity markets ended lower on Thursday amid heightened geopolitical tensions and profit-booking across key sectors. Markets turned risk-averse following India’s Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, prompting a surge in volatility and flight to safety.
Market Overview
- Sensex: ↓ 412 points (-0.51%) to 80,334.81
- Nifty 50: ↓ 141 points (-0.58%) to 24,273.80
- India VIX: 21.48 (+6.7%), highest since April 9 (Moneycontrol)
Broader Markets:
- BSE Midcap: ↓ 1.9%
- BSE Smallcap: ↓ 1.05%
Sectoral Snapshot
- Draggers: Metals, Oil & Gas, Pharma, PSU Banks, Realty, Auto
- Outperformers: IT and Media stocks attracted defensive inflows
Top Nifty 50 Gainers
| Stock | Price (INR) | Change (%) | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCLTech | 1580.70 | +1.11% | Defensive buying in IT amid geopolitical risks |
| Axis Bank | 1172.20 | +0.94% | Institutional inflows post strong Q4 |
| Kotak Bank | 2112.60 | +0.84% | Rotation into large-cap private banks |
Top Nifty 50 Losers
| Stock | Price (INR) | Change (%) | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shriram Finance | 615.80 | -3.27% | Profit booking post NBFC rally |
| Eternal | 229.81 | -2.99% | Weakness across midcaps |
| Adani Ent. | 2285.30 | -2.88% | Continued institutional selling |
| Mahindra & Mahindra | 3033.10 | -2.78% | Weak rural sentiment |
| Tata Consumer | 1116.00 | -2.62% | Input cost pressure on FMCG |
Top Nifty 500 Gainers
| Stock | Price (INR) | Change (%) | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grindwell | 1763.00 | +13.83% | Breakout rally with strong volumes |
| KPR Mill | 1179.00 | +7.07% | Strong Q4 and FY26 guidance |
| Concord Biotech | 1484.00 | +6.26% | Export outlook and regulatory tailwinds |
| CRISIL | 4959.10 | +5.50% | Upgraded by brokerages post earnings |
| Kirloskar Bros | 1824.00 | +4.45% | New orders and infrastructure boost |
Top Nifty 500 Losers
| Stock | Price (INR) | Change (%) | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devyani Intl. | 171.00 | -6.58% | Margin pressure from rising costs |
| PolyMed | 2656.00 | -6.32% | Earnings miss |
| Sundaram Finance | 4942.50 | -6.18% | Broader NBFC weakness |
| CCL Products | 725.00 | -6.16% | Weak guidance, margin worries |
| UPL Ltd. | 646.05 | -6.10% | Profit booking after recent rally |
News Driving the Market
- India-Pakistan Conflict Escalates: Markets reacted to India’s airstrikes under Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s drone shoot-down claims. Rising geopolitical tensions spooked investors (Reuters).
- Rupee & Bond Selloff: INR slid 0.8% to 85.59 vs USD, and 10Y bond yield climbed to 6.38% (Bloomberg).
- Global Markets Steady: US and European indices posted mild gains. Brent crude held near $82.10 while gold surged to ₹99,750/10gm as safe-haven demand rose (TradingView).
What to Watch on May 9, 2025
Key Earnings Announcements
Major companies scheduled to report Q4 and FY25 results:
- Larsen & Toubro, Titan, Asian Paints, Pidilite, Britannia, REC, Canara Bank, Union Bank, Bharat Forge, Jindal Stainless, Biocon, Escorts, MCX, Aarti Industries among others (Economic Times).
Ex-Dividend Stocks
- Bajaj Finance: ₹12 special dividend
- Coforge: ₹19 interim dividend
- Laurus Labs, Bank of Maharashtra, Transformers & Rectifiers also go ex-dividend (Business Standard)
Geopolitical Watch
Investors will monitor any retaliation or diplomatic commentary from Pakistan or international allies that could prolong market anxiety.
Analyst Outlook
Markets may remain range-bound with a downside bias unless geopolitical clarity emerges. Earnings from large-cap firms could offer stock-specific opportunities. Traders are advised to stay hedged and avoid over-leveraged positions.
This is a factual report and should not be construed as investment advice.
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