Sensex, Nifty 50 End Flat; BEL, Reliance Shine — 10 Key Highlights from Indian Stock Market Today

Mumbai, July 1, 2025 — Indian equity benchmarks ended Monday’s trading session on a subdued note amid mixed global cues, sectoral rotation, and cautious investor sentiment ahead of major corporate earnings and macroeconomic data. While the Sensex and Nifty 50 closed almost flat, key stocks like Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and Reliance Industries stood out as top performers, lending crucial support to the indices.

Here are the 10 key highlights from today’s trading session that shaped market direction:

1. Indices End Flat After Volatile Session

The BSE Sensex closed at 79,990.33, marginally down by 18.63 points or 0.02%, while the NSE Nifty 50 ended at 24,317.65, up by just 3.55 points or 0.01%. The benchmarks swung between gains and losses through the day, reflecting uncertainty ahead of Q1 earnings and key global economic data.

“Markets remained range-bound as investors await clarity on earnings growth. Valuations are high, so any disappointment in Q1 results could trigger profit-booking,” said Shweta Sinha, Head of Equity Research, FinAxis Capital.

2. BEL Surges Nearly 6% on Defence Orders

Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) was the top Nifty gainer, rallying 5.9% after the company secured fresh defence orders worth over ₹3,000 crore, fueling optimism about future revenue growth.

“The defence capex cycle is picking up, and BEL stands to benefit significantly given its strong execution track record and order pipeline,” noted Rakesh Rawat, Defence Sector Analyst at Nuvista Broking.

3. Reliance Industries Adds Strength with 1.5% Gain

Reliance Industries gained 1.5% on the back of bullish commentary from brokerages anticipating strong Q1FY26 performance in its retail and digital verticals. CLSA and Morgan Stanley raised their price targets, citing improving margins and Jio’s subscriber growth.

4. IT Stocks Weigh on Index

The Nifty IT index slipped by 0.7%, dragged by Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Tech, as investors booked profits ahead of earnings season. Concerns over weak global tech spending and margin pressures continued to loom.

5. Auto Sector Sees Mixed Action

Auto stocks showed a mixed trend post monthly sales data. Tata Motors rose 0.8% on strong domestic sales, while Bajaj Auto dipped 1.1% on muted export performance. The Nifty Auto index closed flat.

6. Broader Market Outperforms

The BSE Midcap index rose 0.3% and the Smallcap index advanced 0.5%, outperforming the benchmarks. Stocks like BSE Ltd, Mazagon Dock, and Jindal Stainless posted notable gains, signaling continued retail interest in mid- and small-cap segments.

7. Rupee Holds Steady; FII Activity Watch

The Indian rupee traded flat at ₹83.49/$, supported by dollar weakness globally. Meanwhile, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained marginal net sellers, offloading ₹328 crore worth of equities, as per provisional data.

“With the dollar index under pressure and crude stable, rupee should remain in the ₹83.40-83.60 range. FIIs are expected to stay cautious until earnings clarity emerges,” said Alok Bansal, currency strategist at Mehta Equities.

8. Sectoral Snapshot

Among the key sectoral performers:

• Nifty Realty rose 0.9%, led by DLF and Godrej Properties

• Nifty FMCG declined 0.4%, with HUL and Britannia among top losers

• Nifty Bank was flat, as mixed movement was seen in private banks

9. Global Markets Trade Cautiously

Global markets traded in a narrow range, awaiting cues from US PMI and job data due later this week. European indices were slightly higher, while Asian markets closed mixed as Chinese manufacturing activity remained weak.

10. Technical Outlook: Nifty at Crucial Resistance

The Nifty 50 continued to hover near the 24,300–24,350 resistance zone, indicating indecisiveness among traders.

“Unless Nifty decisively breaks above 24,350, we may see consolidation or mild correction. Support is seen at 24,150,” said Rajesh Bhosale, Technical Analyst at Angel One.

Investor Outlook: Wait-and-Watch Mode Ahead of Q1 Earnings

Despite a largely directionless session, underlying sentiment remains cautiously optimistic. The market is likely to take cues from the upcoming earnings season, monsoon progression, and macro data such as GST collections and inflation figures.

Retail participation continues to be strong, especially in midcap and defence-related stocks. However, valuations remain elevated, and investors may adopt a more selective approach in the coming weeks.

“Earnings growth has to catch up with stock prices. For now, investors should avoid aggressive buying and use dips to accumulate fundamentally strong companies,” advised Nirali Shah, Head of Equity Research at SAMCO Securities.