The Indian stock market ended a volatile session on June 23, 2025, with significant losses across frontline indices. Both the Nifty 50 and Sensex closed in the red as selling pressure intensified through the day amid geopolitical tensions, surging crude oil prices, and weak global cues. Despite intraday recoveries, the benchmarks failed to sustain gains and ended the session near day’s lows.
The Nifty market today closed at 24,972, marking a loss of 141 points or 0.56 percent. The Sensex declined 511 points or 0.62 percent, ending at 81,897. The trading session reflected risk aversion among investors, especially in large-cap stocks, while broader markets saw selective buying interest.
Market Closing Highlights
-
Nifty 50 closed at 24,972, down 141 points.
-
Sensex ended at 81,897, losing 511 points.
-
Nifty Midcap 100 gained 0.36 percent.
-
Nifty Smallcap 100 rose 0.70 percent.
-
India VIX climbed 2.7 percent to 14.05, indicating rising volatility.
The indices were weighed down by weakness in IT, auto, and capital goods stocks, while gains in media and defence stocks helped limit the downside to some extent.
Sectoral Performance
The sectoral indices painted a mixed picture, with defensive sectors outperforming and growth-oriented sectors under pressure.
-
Nifty IT: The index dropped about 1.5 percent, dragged down by weak global technology cues and concerns over future earnings. Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and HCL Technologies saw selling as investors reacted to Accenture’s disappointing outlook.
-
Nifty Auto: The auto index slipped 0.9 percent as rising crude oil prices raised concerns over input cost inflation and impact on demand. Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, and Mahindra & Mahindra were among the top laggards.
-
Nifty Media: The media index was the best performer, rallying 4.4 percent on strong buying in stocks like Zee Entertainment and Sun TV, driven by short covering and speculative interest.
-
Nifty Defence: The defence sector index rose 2.1 percent as investors bet on increased government spending on defence amid geopolitical tensions. Bharat Electronics and Hindustan Aeronautics posted notable gains.
Intraday Market Movement
The Nifty opened lower in line with weak global cues and slipped further during the morning session as selling intensified. The index touched an intraday low of 24,825 before staging a partial recovery towards midday. However, fresh selling pressure in the final hours ensured that the Nifty closed below the psychological 25,000 mark.
Sensex followed a similar path, falling sharply in early trade, recouping some losses in the middle of the day, and then weakening again towards the close. The Sensex touched an intraday low of 81,476 before recovering slightly to end at 81,897.
Key Reasons Behind Market Fall
-
Escalating geopolitical tensions
Reports of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities heightened fears of a wider Middle East conflict. Investors were concerned about the impact on global trade, oil supply, and overall risk appetite. -
Crude oil price surge
Brent crude prices spiked towards $80 per barrel, their highest level in five months. As India is a major oil importer, such price rises directly impact inflation, currency stability, and fiscal deficit projections. -
Weak global technology sentiment
Accenture’s lower guidance raised alarms over the health of the global technology sector. This weighed on Indian IT stocks, which derive a large share of revenues from overseas markets. -
Volatility ahead of F&O expiry
With the monthly derivatives expiry this week, traders preferred to reduce positions, adding to the selling pressure and contributing to intraday volatility.
Top Nifty 50 Gainers
-
Trent: Closed up 3.6 percent on strong buying in retail sector names and positive commentary on consumer sentiment.
-
Bharat Electronics: Gained 3.2 percent, benefiting from defensive sector buying amid geopolitical concerns.
-
Hindalco, Tata Consumer, Bajaj Finance: Registered gains on selective buying and sectoral rotation.
Top Nifty 50 Losers
-
Infosys: Lost 2.35 percent as investors reacted to weak global technology demand signals.
-
HCL Technologies: Fell 2.3 percent in line with broad IT sector weakness.
-
L&T: Declined 1.8 percent amid profit booking in capital goods.
-
Hero MotoCorp, M&M: Auto stocks fell as higher fuel costs could dampen demand growth.
Broader Market Sentiment
Despite losses in large caps, broader markets witnessed resilience. The midcap and smallcap indices posted gains, as investors sought opportunities in domestic-focused names with limited global exposure. Analysts noted that domestic institutional investors supported the market, even as foreign portfolio investors continued to trim their holdings, particularly in sectors exposed to external risks.
Technical Outlook
The Nifty closing below 25,000 is viewed as a sign of potential further weakness. Analysts see immediate support for the Nifty at 24,800, followed by 24,700. On the upside, resistance is likely at 25,100 and 25,200 levels.
Any break below 24,700 could trigger further downside towards 24,500 in the near term. On the other hand, a sustained move above 25,100 would be required to negate the current bearish bias.
Market Outlook for the Week
Looking ahead, the market is expected to remain volatile due to the following factors:
-
Geopolitical developments: Investors will keep a close eye on the Middle East situation. Any further escalation could continue to unsettle global markets.
-
Crude oil trend: Sustained high oil prices will likely keep pressure on inflation and sentiment.
-
Global earnings cues: Technology earnings from global players could influence sentiment for Indian IT stocks.
-
Derivatives expiry: The expiry of June series contracts could see heightened volatility through the week.
Expert Views
According to market experts, caution remains the order of the day.
-
Ravi Singh, Share India: “The market is pricing in the risk of geopolitical flare-ups and their impact on oil prices. We recommend traders to stay hedged and avoid aggressive longs until clarity emerges.”
-
Jyoti Roy, Angel One: “Selective buying in midcap and defensive names is advisable. Investors should avoid sectors with high exposure to global uncertainty for now.”
Foreign and Domestic Institutional Activity
Foreign institutional investors continued their selling spree, offloading large-cap stocks, particularly in IT and banking sectors. Domestic institutional investors provided support, especially in midcaps, FMCG, and select financial names.
Conclusion
The Nifty market today reflected heightened nervousness among investors as external risks took center stage. The fall in both Nifty and Sensex underscores the sensitivity of Indian markets to global developments such as crude oil price movement and geopolitical tensions.
While midcaps and smallcaps offered some respite with their gains, traders and investors would do well to adopt a cautious stance in the near term. Monitoring of geopolitical headlines and crude oil prices will be crucial in determining market direction in the coming sessions.
The immediate focus for investors should remain on quality names with stable earnings outlook and limited external exposure. Defensive sectors like FMCG, pharma, and utilities, along with select midcap consumption names, could offer relative safety in this uncertain environment.
ALSO READ: Nifty Outlook: Gap Down to Green Amid Geo Tensions
