he Indian stock market closed lower on Thursday, May 8, 2025, as escalating geopolitical tensions and weak global cues weighed on investor sentiment. Both benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, ended in the red, with market breadth clearly favoring declines.
Key Indices and Market Breadth
- Sensex tumbled 412 points, and Nifty 50 slipped below the 24,300 mark, reflecting a cautious mood among investors.
- The broader market was also weak, with the Nifty Midcap 100 falling nearly 2% and the BSE SmallCap index down over 1%.
- Market breadth was negative, indicating more stocks declined than advanced across the exchanges.
Top Gainers and Losers
- Gainers: Axis Bank, HCL Technologies, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Titan, and Tata Motors were among the top performers on the Nifty 50. Tata Motors extended its rally for a second straight session, while HCL Tech rose over 1% after announcing a major IT partnership in the UK.
- Losers: Shriram Finance, Eternal Ltd, Mahindra & Mahindra, Adani Enterprises, and Hindalco Industries dragged the index down. Tata Consumer Products, ITC, Dr Reddy’s Labs, and Maruti Suzuki also ended lower.
Sectoral Performance
- Nifty Media was a rare bright spot, up nearly 2%, led by Zee Entertainment and Network18.
- Banking stocks showed mixed moves; Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank gained, but HDFC Bank and SBI lagged.
- IT stocks like HCL Tech contributed positively, while FMCG, Pharma, and Auto sectors saw notable declines.
- Nifty Auto and Nifty Pharma were among the hardest hit, down nearly 2% and 1.6% respectively.
Noteworthy Stock Moves
- HCL Technologies surged after being selected as an IT partner by UK’s Taylor Wimpey, boosting the Nifty IT index.
- Canara Bank shares jumped almost 3% after reporting a 33% YoY rise in Q4 net profit.
- Coal India gained following a 12% increase in quarterly profit, while DB Corp fell almost 4% post-earnings.
Broader Market and Volatility
- The Nifty Smallcap 100 index managed a gain of over 1% earlier in the day, led by stocks like Welspun Living and Amara Raja Energy.
- India VIX, the volatility index, dropped 3% to 18.47, suggesting some easing in market nervousness despite the overall decline.
Market Sentiment and Outlook
he day’s trading was marked by rangebound moves and choppy sentiment as investors weighed the impact of India-Pakistan tensions and awaited further global cues. Despite pockets of strength in IT and select banks, the overall tone was defensive, with profit-booking and risk aversion dominating the session.
In summary:
May 8, 2025, saw the Indian stock market retreat amid heightened volatility and negative breadth, with only a few sectors and stocks bucking the trend. Investors are likely to remain cautious in the near term, closely tracking geopolitical developments and upcoming corporate earnings
