Indian stock markets experienced a day of mixed performance, with benchmark indices displaying marginal movements while small and mid-sized companies (SMIDs) showed positive momentum. The Sensex experienced a minor dip of 50 points, while the Nifty remained below the 25,500 mark [title]. Meanwhile, Titan Company's shares faced a notable slide of 4% [title].
Benchmark Indices and Market Sentiment
On Monday, July 7, 2025, the Indian benchmark indices concluded on a relatively flat note, as gains in consumer and oil & gas stocks were counteracted by declines in financial and IT shares. The BSE Sensex inched up by a mere 9.61 points (0.01%) to close at 83,442.50, while the NSE Nifty edged up by 0.30 points to settle at 25,461.30. Caution prevailed in the market due to uncertainty surrounding the India-US trade deal and ahead of the July 9 U.S. tariff deadline.
On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, trends on Gift Nifty also indicated a negative start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around the 25,495 level, a discount of nearly 44 points from the Nifty futures' previous close.
Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research at Kotak Securities, noted the indecisiveness between bulls and bears, advising traders to adopt a level-based trading strategy in the non-directional market.
SMID Segment Performance
In contrast to the flat performance of the benchmark indices, the SMID segment displayed positive momentum [title]. SMID-cap stocks have historically offered an attractive risk-return profile compared to small- and mid-cap stocks. SMID-cap stocks have generally outperformed small-cap stocks, while offering lower volatility than mid-cap stocks. The inefficiency in small and mid-cap markets, due to lesser analyst coverage and investor attention, creates opportunities for investors to identify undervalued assets that may offer favorable returns upon market correction. Investing in SMID-cap stocks enhances portfolio diversification by tapping into a broader range of sectors and themes, reducing overall risk while maintaining exposure to growth.
Titan Company's Slide
Titan Company's shares experienced a notable decline of 4% [title]. On July 7, 2025, Titan shares ended at Rs 3,670, down by Rs 16.90 or 0.46%. However, the company reported a 20% year-on-year growth in its consumer business in Q1FY26 while adding 10 new stores (net) in Q1FY26, extending its retail network to 3,322 stores. Its domestic Jewellery operations grew 18% YoY in a quarter marked by gold price volatility affecting consumer sentiments.
Analysts' opinions on Titan Company Ltd's future price vary, with a maximum estimate of 4,541.00 INR and a minimum estimate of 3,041.00 INR. The stock has fallen by 0.00% compared to the previous week, but the month change is a 4.03% rise, and over the last year, Titan Company Ltd has shown a 10.03% increase.
Global Cues and Market Influences
The Indian stock market is expected to open lower on Tuesday, tracking mixed global market cues after the announcement of tariffs by US President Donald Trump on its several trading partner countries. Asian markets displayed more red than green due to trade uncertainty weighing on markets. Concerns over new tariffs are bothering markets, influencing Wall Street futures.
