Sensex, Nifty 50 end flat; PSU bank stocks shine— 10 key highlights from Indian stock market today

Benchmark Indices Close Flat Amid Volatile Trading

On Tuesday, July 16, 2025, Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty 50 ended flat amid a choppy session, with gains in PSU banking and realty stocks offset by losses in select IT and FMCG counters. Market participants exercised caution ahead of upcoming global economic data and corporate earnings, leading to subdued investor sentiment.

While the Sensex slipped marginally by 34.12 points to close at 77,099.84, the Nifty 50 edged lower by 2.85 points, ending the session at 23,457.25. Broader market indices, however, outperformed the benchmarks, with notable buying in the mid and small-cap segments.

Top 10 Highlights from the Market Today

1. Benchmarks End Flat

The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 failed to sustain early gains and closed nearly unchanged. While initial buying interest lifted the indices, profit booking in heavyweight stocks towards the closing bell erased most gains.

2. PSU Banks Outperform

Public Sector Banks led the rally today, with the Nifty PSU Bank index surging over 1.5%, outperforming sectoral peers. State Bank of India (SBI) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) were among the top gainers in the pack, fueled by improved credit growth and declining NPAs.

3. IT and FMCG Drag Indices

IT majors like Infosys, TCS, and HCLTech faced selling pressure post their Q1 results, which failed to excite investors. FMCG players such as HUL and Nestle also witnessed minor corrections due to concerns over rural demand.

4. Mid & Small Caps Continue to Shine

The BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices rose by 0.65% and 0.83% respectively, reflecting sustained investor interest in broader markets. Sectors like capital goods, realty, and auto contributed to this uptick.

5. Realty Stocks in Focus

The Nifty Realty index jumped over 1.2%, led by stocks like DLF, Prestige Estates, and Oberoi Realty, amid expectations of strong pre-sales growth in Q2FY26.

6. Volatility Index Slides

India VIX, a gauge of market volatility, dropped by 3.1% to settle near the 13.20 mark, indicating reduced fear among traders ahead of upcoming earnings and macroeconomic data.

7. Rupee Ends Flat Against USD

The Indian rupee closed little changed at ₹83.41 per US dollar, as strong FPI inflows and domestic equity resilience balanced global dollar strength.

8. Sectoral Performance Mixed

Apart from PSU banks and real estate, metal and auto sectors also posted modest gains. On the flip side, pharma, IT, and FMCG sectors closed in the red.

9. FPI Activity Positive

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) remained net buyers for the third consecutive session, infusing ₹1,462 crore into Indian equities, according to provisional NSE data. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), however, turned net sellers.

10. Global Markets Offer Limited Cues

Global markets remained mixed ahead of the US retail sales data and key corporate earnings, including results from Tesla and Netflix. Asian markets largely traded sideways, while European indices opened flat.

What Analysts Say

“Markets witnessed a pause after recent gains, with frontline indices hovering in a narrow range. However, the action remained stock-specific, and sectors like PSU banks and real estate are showing strength,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

“IT stocks are under pressure post-earnings, but overall, the market breadth remains healthy, indicating strong underlying momentum in mid and small caps,” added Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research at Kotak Securities.

Technical View

According to technical analysts, Nifty 50 is facing resistance near 23,500, and a decisive breakout above this level may open doors toward 23,700–23,800 in the short term. On the downside, immediate support lies around 23,300.

Investor Outlook

Investors are expected to remain stock-specific amid the ongoing Q1 FY26 earnings season. While large-cap IT results may have disappointed, traction in domestic-facing sectors like banks, real estate, and auto suggests broader economic resilience.

Short-term consolidation is likely as markets digest recent gains, but sustained FPI inflows, benign inflation, and robust tax collections are supporting the bullish undertone.

While benchmark indices ended largely unchanged today, the broader market continues to signal strength with positive momentum in PSU banks and mid-caps. With earnings season in full swing and key global data around the corner, markets may remain range-bound in the near term, but opportunities abound in select sectors.