On Friday, October 24, 2025, Indian equity benchmark indices began the session on a positive note, supported by upbeat global cues. However, the optimism proved short-lived as profit booking emerged soon after the opening. The Nifty 50 index slipped to an intraday low of 25,718.20, before witnessing a mild pullback from lower levels. Despite this recovery, the index ended the day in the red, snapping its six-day winning streak.
At the close, the Nifty 50 declined by 0.37% (96.25 points) to 25,795.15, while the Sensex fell 344.52 points (0.41%) to 84,211.88. The Bank Nifty underperformed, dropping 0.65% (378.45 points) to end below the 57,700 mark.
For the week, the Nifty 50 posted gains of 0.33%, extending its winning run for a fourth consecutive week. In contrast, the Bank Nifty ended its three-week winning streak, closing the week marginally lower by 0.02%.
Economic Data: PMI Shows Mild Moderation
India’s business activity showed a slight moderation in October. The HSBC Composite PMI eased to 59.9 from 61 in September. However, the Manufacturing PMI edged up to 58.4 from 57.7, while the Services PMI declined to 58.8 from 60.9 in the previous month, indicating some cooling in the services sector.
On the sectoral front, eight sectors ended in losses, while three closed in the green. The Nifty Metal index emerged as the top gainer, rising over 1%, led by strength in Hindalco Industries, Hindustan Copper, and National Aluminium, each gaining over 3%.
Conversely, the Nifty FMCG index declined by 0.75%, dragged by weakness in Hindustan Unilever, which slipped more than 3% after announcing its Q2FY26 results.
Broader Markets: Profit Booking Continues
The broader markets also witnessed selling pressure, with both the Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices extending their declines for the second consecutive day. The advance-decline ratio remained in favour of decliners, signaling widespread profit booking.
Stock-Specific Highlights
- Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) surged nearly 10%, hitting a 52-week high after the board approved its long-term business plan.
- Refex Industries gained 3.83% after securing a ₹300 crore order for overburden removal, excavation, and coal transportation from a large mining entity in Jharkhand.
- Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals advanced nearly 1% after receiving a Letter of Award worth ₹445.04 crore from the New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd (NREDCAP) to set up 77.40 MWp grid-connected solar rooftop systems under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
- Hindustan Unilever (HUL) fell over 3% following its Q2FY26 earnings, which failed to impress investors.
Nifty 50: Top Pullers and Draggers
Top Contributors (Pullers):
Top Drags:
- HDFC Bank: -42.95 points
- Hindustan Unilever: -16.75 points
- Kotak Mahindra Bank: -10.61 points
