Indian stock indices experienced a downturn on Monday, September 22, 2025, with the Sensex and Nifty50 both registering losses. The Sensex fell by approximately 300 points, while the Nifty50 hovered around 25,238.

Market Performance:

• Sensex: The BSE Sensex closed at 82,626.23, a decrease of 387.73 points or 0.47%. During the day, it reached a high of 82,978.63 and a low of 82,485.92.
• Nifty 50: The Nifty 50 settled at 25,327.05, down by 96.55 points or 0.38%. The index hit a high of 25,428.75 and a low of 25,286.30 during the trading session.
• Nifty Bank: The Nifty Bank closed at 55,458.85, declining by 268.60 points or 0.48%. It experienced a high of 55,688.75 and a low of 55,355.30.

Sectoral Performance and Key Influences:

• IT Sector Drag: IT stocks were major contributors to the market decline. Tech Mahindra and Wipro experienced significant slumps, with losses of up to 6%. Other IT companies like Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HCLTech also fell. The Nifty IT index shed almost 3%, making it one of the worst-performing sectoral indices for the day.
• H-1B Visa Fee Hike: A significant factor impacting the IT sector was the U.S. government's decision to sharply increase the one-time cost of H-1B visas to $100,000 (Rs 88 lakh). This rattled sentiment in a sector that had recently shown signs of recovery.
• Mixed Sectoral Movement: While IT, healthcare, and mid-small caps faced downward pressure, there was strength visible in auto, energy, media, realty, and banking sectors. This mixed movement indicated cautious positioning by investors, who were closely tracking sector-specific developments and broader market cues.

Market Sentiment and Analysis:

• Profit Booking: The Indian stocks traded lower on Monday following profit booking after the previous session.
• Cautious Optimism: Despite the downturn, some analysts believe the short-term market outlook remains bullish, though range-bound activity may occur due to temporary overbought conditions. They suggest that buying on dips and selling on rallies would be an ideal strategy for traders.
• Technical Levels: Immediate resistance for the Nifty 50 is seen in the 25,500 to 25,600 range. A sustained move above this pocket could open the door for a rally towards 25,750. On the flip side, near-term support is pegged at 25,250 to 25,300.

Global and Domestic Factors:

• Global Cues: Trends on GIFT Nifty also indicated a negative start for the Indian benchmark index.
• Domestic Liquidity: Domestic liquidity is currently driving the market, and foreign selling has receded.
• GST and Consumption: Some analysts expect the Indian market to witness dualistic behavior, with the IT sector impacted by the H1B visa issue and domestic consumption themes responding to potential boosts from lower GST rates. The festival season is expected to bring one of the best consumption booms in recent times.