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Informist, Wednesday, May 14, 2025

By Akash Mandal

MUMBAI – Benchmark indices ended higher Wednesday after a late dash in the final half hour of the session. The market faced selling pressure at higher levels as the Nifty 50 lost all intraday gains at one point but buying at 24500-24600 levels helped the index end slightly higher. The Nifty 50 moved in a relatively narrow range of 230 points Wednesday compared with the range of 400-600 points in the previous two sessions.

Despite heavyweight HDFC Bank ending around 1% lower and dragging down the Nifty 50, the index managed to end in the green at 24666.90 points, up 88.55 points or 0.4%. The BSE Sensex ended at 81330.56 points, up 182.34 points or 0.2%. Indices had risen around 0.8% in early trade, but had turned flat in the afternoon. Broader market indices ended 1-2% higher each.

With uncertainty regarding US tariffs and India-Pakistan tensions subsiding for the time being, the India VIX fell over 5% to end at 17.2250 points. The indicator, which is the fear gauge of the Street, had fallen as much as 6% in early trade to its lowest level in over a week.

Most sectoral indices ended higher. The Nifty India Defence index rose for the fourth straight session as analysts said that while the conflict between India and Pakistan has cooled off for now, such conflicts lead to a significant increase in defence budgets, which leads to more contracts from the government for these companies. The index has risen over 11% during its four session winning run. Cochin Shipyard, DCX Systems, and Bharat Electronics ended 2-8% higher Wednesday.

Shares of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers ended over 14% higher after its bottom line for the March quarter doubled on year. Hindustan Aeronautics rose further after its net profit for the reporting quarter beat analysts' estimates by a wide margin. The stock, which was trading a tad over 2% higher before the announcement of earnings, ended over 3% higher.

With the earnings season in a full flow, many stocks reacted to their March quarter earnings. Shares of Tata Steel ended 4% higher after brokerages gave a bullish outlook on the stock on hopes of higher profit from its European operations and possible cost-optimisation measures. Nuvama Institutional Equities upgraded the stock to 'buy' from 'hold' and raised its target price by 8% to INR 164.

Bharti Airtel rose nearly 3% after its bottom line for the March quarter beat analysts' estimates by a wide margin even after excluding a deferred tax credit which amounted to nearly one-third of the company's consolidated net profit. Aditya Birla Capital closed nearly 7% higher after its consolidated net profit and revenue both rose sequentially. 

Cipla ended nearly 2% lower and was among the worst hit in the Nifty 50 after analysts were left dissapointed by its margin guidance for 2025-26 (Apr-Mar). "While Cipla continues to implement strategies to offset the competitive impact of g-Revlimid and to expand its presence in the North American segment, we anticipate a gestation period due to the progress of products in the pipeline," Motilal Oswal Financial Services said in an report post earnings. Tata Motors fell over 1% as brokerages were cautious on the weak demand outlook for the company and risks associated with US tariffs. The stock fell despite its bottom line beating the Street's view by a wide margin.

Apar Industries rose nearly 9% after its consolidated net profit for the March quarter beat analysts' estimates. The stock ended over 6% higher. Graphite India, which traded 3% higher before its earnings announcement, rose nearly 8% after its bottom line nearly doubled on year. The stock ended 5% higher.

* Of the Nifty 50 stocks, 38 rose and 12 fell

* Of the Sensex stocks, 20 rose and 10 fell

* On the NSE, 2,183 stocks rose, 694 fell, and 83 were unchanged

* On the BSE, 2,855 stocks rose, 1,121 fell, and 149 were unchanged

* Nifty India Defence: up 3.2%; Nifty Metal: up 2.5%; Nifty Bank: down 0.3%

BSE                                               NSE

Sensex: 81330.56, up 182.34 points or 0.2%        Nifty 50: 24666.90, up 88.55 points or 0.4%

End

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

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