The Indian stock market experienced a volatile trading session today, August 1, 2025, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 opening lower, reflecting weak global cues.

Market Performance:

• Sensex: The Sensex fell by 200 points. On Thursday, the Sensex declined 296.28 points, or 0.36%, to close at 81,185.58.
• Nifty 50: The Nifty was trading below the 24,750 level. Yesterday, the Nifty 50 settled 86.70 points, or 0.35%, lower at 24,768.35.
• Gift Nifty: Early indications from Gift Nifty suggested a subdued start, hovering around 24,725, approximately 146 points below the previous Nifty futures close, hinting at a likely gap-down opening for the domestic benchmarks.

Factors Influencing the Market:

• US Tariffs: Market sentiment was impacted by the imposition of a 25% tariff by the US on India starting August 1, 2025. US President Donald Trump's announcement of tariffs on several countries triggered concerns over global trade tensions.
• Global Cues: Weak global cues, triggered by the US tariffs, contributed to the lower opening of the Indian stock market. Asian markets slipped, and Wall Street closed in the red overnight as investors reacted to the new tariffs and ongoing corporate earnings reports.
• Technical Indicators: The Nifty 50 is showing signs of weakness, with a clear pattern of lower highs and lower lows on the daily chart, suggesting a short-term downtrend. The trend strength indicator, ADX, is currently quoting at 20.68, indicating a lack of strong directional momentum in the market.

Stock-Specific Highlights:

• Hindustan Unilever (HUL): HUL's stock is up by 4%. HUL's Q1 2026 numbers were encouraging, with revenues growing by 5% year-on-year. The company's sales volume grew by 4% in the June 2025 quarter, matching the previous year's growth rate. HUL's underlying sales growth (USG) saw a gradual uptick to 5% from 2% in the year-ago quarter. HUL's new CEO, Priya Nair, assumed office on August 1, 2025. Investors are optimistic that her deep understanding of the Indian market and extensive experience will help HUL elevate its performance, drive growth, and navigate evolving consumer preferences.
• Swiggy: Shares of Swiggy opened sharply lower, falling by 3.27% to Rs 390.55 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Swiggy's net loss widened to Rs 1,197 crore in Q1 FY26, even as revenue from operations surged 54% year-on-year to Rs 4,961 crore. Swiggy's quick commerce arm, Instamart, delivered exceptional growth, with GOV rising 108% YoY and 21% QoQ. Brokerages have hiked Swiggy's share price targets amid the quick commerce boom. Swiggy is growing faster than Eternal (Zomato), and analysts believe the current valuation discount may no longer be justified once EBITDA parity is achieved.

Expert Opinions:

• Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research at Kotak Securities, noted that 80,800 and 80,600 would act as key support zones for the Sensex. He added that as long as the Sensex trades above these levels, the pullback formation is likely to continue. On the higher side, the index could move up to 81,900 and 82,200.
• Shah believes the zone of 24,600 - 24,550 will act as important support for the Nifty 50 index. He added that if the index slips below the 24,550 level, then the next crucial support is placed at the 24,400 level. While on the upside, 25,000 - 25,050 will act as an immediate hurdle for the index.

Overall:

The Indian stock market is expected to remain under pressure, facing resistance at 25,000, amid concerns over trade tensions and global cues. Investors are advised to remain cautious and adopt a hedged strategy due to expected market fluctuations.