Mumbai, India – Indian stock markets experienced a downturn today, with the Sensex falling over 100 points and the Nifty slipping below the 25,900 mark. This decline comes after a marginally positive close during the special Muhurat trading session on Tuesday, which marked the beginning of Samvat 2082.

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex settled at 84,426.34, a decrease of 62.97 points or 0.07%, while the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty 50 closed at 25,868.60, up 25.45 points or 0.10%.

Key Market Drivers

On October 23, 2025, the Sensex touched a new 52-week high of 85,290 during the day, but ended with a modest rise of 130.06 points, or 0.15%, to 84,556.40. The Nifty 50 also surged to an intra-day high of 26,104 before closing almost flat at 25,891.40, up 22.80 points, or 0.09%.

Sectoral Performance

The Nifty Realty and PSU Bank sectors were the only losers, while Nifty Media, Metal, and Pharma stocks led the gains. The broader markets outperformed, with the BSE Midcap index rising 0.3% and the Smallcap index gaining 1%.

Top Gainers and Losers

Cipla was a top performer, rising 1.58% and hitting a 52-week high during the Muhurat trading session. Other notable gainers included Bajaj Finserv, Axis Bank, and Infosys. Conversely, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, Max Healthcare, and Asian Paints experienced losses.

Stocks in Focus

Cipla gained the most, up 1.49%, followed by Bajaj Finserv, Axis Bank, and Infosys. Kotak Bank, ICICI Bank, HCL Tech, and Bharti Airtel were major laggards.

Market Outlook

Despite the day's downturn, the short-term trend for the Indian stock market remains strong. Experts suggest that domestic fundamentals will drive a gradual but sustained upside in the new Samvat year. Market expert Ajay Bagga projects the Nifty at 30,000 and Sensex around 95,000 by the next Diwali. Positive global cues, renewed foreign inflows, and better-than-expected quarterly earnings could help sustain the market's upward momentum, though intermittent profit booking at higher levels cannot be ruled out.

Global Market Influences

Asian markets traded higher, and the US stock market rallied overnight, as confirmation of the upcoming Donald Trump-Xi Jinping meeting improved sentiment.

Muhurat Trading Session

During the special one-hour Muhurat trading session, the Sensex rose 62.97 points to settle at 84,426.34, while the Nifty went up by 25.45 points to settle at 25,868.60. The session, symbolizing the start of the new Hindu financial year, Samvat 2082, saw broader markets outperforming.