Nifty Records Steepest Fall in Two Weeks; India VIX Surges as Geopolitical Tensions Flare Up; Maruti Declares ₹135 Dividend
The Indian benchmark indices surrendered early gains and closed with sharp losses on Friday. The NSE Nifty 50 declined by 0.86%, while the BSE Sensex fell by 0.74%. The Nifty 50 index recorded its steepest single-day fall in two weeks, triggered by escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, including ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) following the Pahalgam terror attack.
India’s volatility index, India VIX, surged 5.6%, crossing the 17-mark and signalling heightened nervousness among investors. Despite Friday’s decline, the Nifty 50 managed to close the week with a gain of 0.79%, holding above the 24,000 level.
On a sectoral basis, all indices ended in negative territory except for Nifty IT, which posted a gain of 0.72%. Nifty Media and Nifty Realty were the top losers, falling by 3.24% and 2.8%, respectively.
The sell-off in broader markets was even more pronounced than in the frontline indices. The Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices declined by 2.55% and 2.45%, respectively. Market breadth heavily favoured the bears, with 2,213 stocks closing in the red and only 256 ending in the green.
Maruti Suzuki India: The company’s share price fell by 1.65% after reporting a decline in Q4FY25 profits. The Board has recommended a final dividend of ₹135 per share for FY25.
VST Industries: The stock plunged over 8% following a sharp fall in its Q4 profit, which nearly halved year-on-year.
All eyes are now on Reliance Industries, which is scheduled to report its earnings today. Alongside domestic corporate results, developments across the India-Pakistan border are expected to influence the market’s near-term trajectory.
Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
For android only