Stock market highlights: Sensex adds 769 pts, Nifty at 24,853; FMCG, IT, banks gain; pharma dips

Stock market highlights on Friday, May 23, 2025: Among the broader basket, Nifty Midcap100 and Nifty Smallcap100 indices settled with gains of 0.64 per cent and 0.80 per cent respectively

Stock Market close highlights, Friday, May 23, 2025: The benchmark Indian equity indices ended the week’s last trading session in the positive territory led by the gains across IT, FMCG, financial and banking counters.

 

The BSE Sensex climbed 769.09 points or 0.95 per cent to settle at 81,721.08. The index traded in the range of 81,905.17 - 80,897.00 on Friday. The NSE Nifty50 too settled higher by 243.45 points or 0.99 per cent at 24,853.15.

 

Among the broader basket, Nifty Midcap100 and Nifty Smallcap100 indices settled with gains of 0.64 per cent and 0.80 per cent respectively.

 

Barring Sun Pharma (down 1.84 per cent), and Bharti Airtel (down 0.19 per cent), all the other 28 constituent stocks of Sensex settled higher with gains led by Eternal, Power Grid, ITC, Bajaj Finserv, and Nestle India in the range of 3.51 per cent - 1.83 per cent.

 

Market breadth remained positive as 2,347 out of 4,106 traded stocks on BSE settled higher, while 1,600 posted declines, and 159 remained unchanged. As many as 98 stocks hit their 52-week highs on BSE on Friday, while 23 touched their 52-week lows.

 

Among the sectoral front, Nifty FMCG and Private Bank indices outperformed others, ending higher by over 1.63 per cent and 1.08 per cent, respectively. IT, Financial Services, Metal, PSU Bank, Oil & Gas, and Realty were among other gainers that ended higher by up to 0.95 per cent.

 

Nifty Pharma, and Healthcare indices were the only two sectoral losers. The former ended down 0.41 per cent, while the latter fell by merely 0.01 per cent. 

 

Meanwhile, the volatility index (India VIX) which gauges market volatility ended lower by 0.57 per cent at 17.16 points on Friday. 

 

6:13 PM

Stock Market LIVE Updates: Technical view

Stock Market LIVE Updates: The index has moved higher after finding support at the 21-day EMA. Broadly speaking, the Nifty appears to be consolidating within the range of 24,700–25,000. The short-term trend remains positive, with momentum likely to strengthen above 25,000. A decisive breakout above this level could give the bulls an upper hand and potentially trigger a rally towards 25,250–25,350. On the downside, the index has support at 24,700; a break below this level could attract bearish bets.

 

View by Rupak De, senior technical analyst, LKP Securities.

6:13 PM

Stock Market LIVE Updates: Expert view

Stock Market LIVE Updates: Markets witnessed some respite on the final trading day of the week, gaining nearly a percent amid mixed cues. After a flat start, the Nifty saw a noticeable surge during the early hours of trade, followed by a range-bound move till the close. It eventually settled at 24,853, up by 0.99 per cent.All key sectors, except pharma, contributed to the up move, with FMCG, financials, and IT emerging as the top gainers. The broader indices also advanced, gaining over half a percent each.

 

The rebound reflects positive sentiment despite mixed global cues, as participants are using dips to accumulate quality stocks across sectors. Technically, the recovery after retesting the crucial short-term support level — the 20-day exponential moving average (20 DEMA) — has eased some pressure. The outlook could improve further with renewed strength in the banking and financial sectors after their consolidation phase. We maintain our view of adopting a “buy on dips” strategy, with a focus on selective stock picking, unless the Nifty decisively breaks below the 24,500 mark.

 

View by Ajit Mishra – SVP, research, Religare Broking Ltd.