On November 21, 2025, the Indian stock market experienced a decline, with both the Sensex and Nifty indices trading in the red. The BSE Sensex decreased by 285.28 points to 85,347.40 in early trade, while the NSE Nifty dipped 82.6 points to 26,109.55.

Global Market Trends

One of the primary factors contributing to this downturn is the weak global market trends. Asian markets, including South Korea's Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225, Shanghai's SSE Composite index, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index, were all trading lower. Specifically, the Kospi fell by over 3%, and the Nikkei 225 index dropped by more than 2%. US markets also ended in negative territory on Thursday, with the Nasdaq Composite tanking 2.15%, the S&P 500 declining 1.56%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.84%.

Sectoral Performance

Across the NSE, most sectoral indices were trading lower, except for Nifty Auto, which saw a slight gain of 0.17%. The top laggards included Nifty Metal, PSU Bank, and Realty indices, each down by over 1%.

Stocks in Focus

Among the Sensex firms, major laggards included ICICI Bank, Eternal, Adani Ports, Tata Steel, and Power Grid. Conversely, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, Titan, and Asian Paints were among the gainers.

Market Volatility

Market volatility has spiked, with the India VIX, a measure of market volatility, rising by 13.28%. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments Ltd, noted that the Nasdaq's significant decline signaled the potential for increased volatility.

FII and DII Activity

On Thursday, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 283.65 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought stocks worth Rs 824.46 crore.

Expert Commentary

Vijayakumar from Geojit Investments Ltd. highlighted the Nasdaq's movement as a signal of more volatility in store.

Global Economic Factors

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, dropped 1.26% to USD 62.58 per barrel.

In summary, the decline in the Indian stock market on November 21, 2025, can be attributed to weak global market trends, negative performance in Asian and US markets, and increased market volatility. Most sectoral indices traded lower, with specific stocks like ICICI Bank and Tata Steel experiencing losses. While FIIs and DIIs engaged in buying activity, overall market sentiment remained cautious due to global cues and volatility.