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Key gauges end marginally higher on Thursday
Aug-21-2025

Extending winning run to the sixth consecutive day, Indian equity benchmarks ended marginally higher on Thursday, led by gains in Healthcare, Realty and Industrials stocks. However, gains remained capped as investors stayed cautious ahead of the US Fed’s annual symposium for rate outlook cues. Rising crude oil prices also dented investor sentiments and restricted the further upmove. 

Some of the important factors in today’s trade: 

India’s flash composite PMI surges to 65.2 in August: India’s private sector economy recorded its fastest growth since the start of survey data in December 2005, with the headline HSBC Flash India Composite PMI Output Index rising over four points to 65.2 from 61.1 in July, according to S&P Global. 

Indian economy presents picture of strength, stability, opportunity: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra at the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meet said that Indian economy presents a picture of strength, stability, and opportunity. The RBI held MPC meet from August 4 to 6 while stressing that the monetary policy needs to remain watchful as uncertainties of US tariffs are still evolving. 

EPFO records 13% growth in net addition to nearly 22 lakh members in June: The Labour Ministry in its latest payroll data has showed that retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) recorded a 13.46% year-on-year growth in net member addition of 21.89 lakh in June, marking the highest recorded addition since payroll data tracking began in April 2018. 

Rupee falls against US Dollar: Indian rupee pared initial gains and settled for the day lower against US dollar, on a strong American currency and a recovery in crude oil prices. 

Global front: European markets were trading lower as investors looked ahead to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole symposium for hints of possible rate cuts this year.  Asian markets ended mostly higher after reports indicated the Trump administration is looking into the federal government taking equity stakes in Intel and other chipmakers in return for the federal subsidies. Traders also remained optimistic about the US Fed cutting interest rates is September. 

Finally, the BSE Sensex rose 142.87 points or 0.17% to 82,000.71 and the CNX Nifty was up by 33.20 points or 0.13% to 25,083.75.  

The BSE Sensex touched high and low of 82,231.17 and 81,921.22 respectively. There were 14 stocks advancing against 16 stocks declining on the index.  

The broader indices ended mixed; the BSE Mid cap index fell 0.12%, while Small cap index was up by 0.01%.

The top gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were Healthcare up by 0.61%, Realty up by 0.46%, Industrials up by 0.25%, Oil & Gas up by 0.19% and Energy up by 0.12%, while Power down by 0.94%, Utilities down by 0.63%, FMCG down by 0.53%, PSU down by 0.43% and Auto down by 0.41% were the top losing indices on BSE.

The top gainers on the Sensex were Bajaj Finserv up by 1.12%, ICICI Bank up by 1.09%, Bajaj Finance up by 0.90%, Reliance Industries up by 0.86% and Larsen & Toubro up by 0.76%. On the flip side, Power Grid Corporation down by 1.51%, Eternal down by 1.47%, Hindustan Unilever down by 1.08%, Adani Ports &SEZ down by 0.95% and NTPC down by 0.91% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry in its latest data has showed that the output of eight key infrastructure sectors fell to a two-month low of 2 per cent in July 2025 due to a dip in the production of coal, crude oil, natural gas, and refinery products. The output of these sectors had risen by 6.3 per cent in July last year. The production growth was 2.2 per cent in the previous month of June.

Steel production having 17.92 per cent weight increased by 12.8 per cent in July, 2025 over July, 2024 and its cumulative index increased by 8.5 per cent during April to July, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Cement production having 5.37 per cent weight increased by 11.7 per cent in July, 2025 over July, 2024 and its cumulative index increased by 8.9 per cent during April to July, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. 

Electricity generation having 19.85 per cent weight increased by 0.5 per cent in July, 2025 over July, 2024, while its cumulative index declined by 1.0 per cent during April to July, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Fertilizer production having 2.63 per cent weight increased by 2.0 per cent in July, 2025 over July, 2024, while its cumulative index declined by 2.2 per cent during April to July, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year.  

Coal production having 10.33 per cent weight declined by 12.3 per cent in July, 2025 over July, 2024 and its cumulative index declined by 3.1 per cent during April to July, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Natural Gas production having 6.88 per cent weight declined by 3.2 per cent in July, 2025 over July, 2024 and its cumulative index declined by 2.6 per cent during April to July, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. 

Crude Oil production having 8.98 per cent weight declined by 1.3 per cent in July, 2025 over July, 2024 and its cumulative index declined by 1.7 per cent during April to July, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Petroleum Refinery production having 28.04 per cent weight declined by 1.0 per cent in July, 2025 over July, 2024 and its cumulative index declined by 0.3 per cent during April to July, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year.

The CNX Nifty traded in a range of 25,153.65 and 25,054.90. There were 22 stocks advancing against 28 stocks declining on the index.

The top gainers on Nifty were Cipla up by 3.09%, Dr. Reddy's Lab up by 2.61%, Bajaj Finserv up by 1.03%, ICICI Bank up by 0.99% and Hindalco Industries up by 0.88%. On the flip side, Tata Consumer Product down by 1.57%, Bajaj Auto down by 1.56%, Eternal down by 1.55%, Power Grid Corp down by 1.51% and IndusInd Bank down by 1.36% were the top losers.

European markets were trading lower; UK’s FTSE 100 decreased 25.79 points or 0.28% to 9,262.35, France’s CAC fell 42.53 points or 0.53% to 7,930.50 and Germany’s DAX lost 36.57 points or 0.15% to 24,240.40.

Asian markets ended mostly higher on Thursday ahead of policy signals from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who is expected to speak on Friday at the Fed's annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Seoul shares rose, with defense and shipbuilding shares leading the surge on expectations of rising global arms demand. Chinese shares gained, hitting a new 10-year high amid easing trade tensions and fresh government moves to stabilize jobs and spending. However, Hong Kong shares declined on disappointing corporate earnings and cellphone shipment reports. Japanese markets fell as technology shares tracked their US peers lower. 

Asian Indices

Last Trade            

Change in Points

Change in %      

Shanghai Composite

3,771.10

4.89

0.13

Hang Seng

25,104.61

-61.33

-0.24

Jakarta Composite

7,890.72

-53.11

-0.67

KLSE Composite

1,592.87

4.66

0.29

Nikkei 225

42,610.17

-278.38

-0.65

Straits Times

4,230.90

11.36

0.27

KOSPI Composite

3,141.74

11.65

0.37

Taiwan Weighted

23,962.13

336.69

1.41
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