The Indian stock market closed a volatile trading day with mixed results on Thursday. Healthcare and PSU bank stocks saw gains, while media and FMCG shares lagged behind. The benchmark Nifty ended slightly higher by 0.06%, gaining 14.05 points to reach 25,496.55, while the Sensex slipped 0.03% to settle at 82,248.61, losing 27.46 points.
Experts analyzing the Nifty technical outlook highlighted the need for a decisive close above 25,700 with strong volumes to significantly change momentum. They suggested that selective dip-buying might continue as long as 25,400 holds as a structural base.
In the 30-share pack, Trent performed the worst, declining by 1.61%. On the other hand, BEL emerged as the top performer during the intra-day trading session. Sun Pharma, Adani Ports, Maruti Suzuki India, and Bharti Airtel were among the top gainers, while Eternal, Power Grid, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finserv, and Asian Paints were among the top losers.
The broader markets displayed a mixed trend by the session’s end, with the Nifty MidCap index declining by 0.58% and the Nifty SmallCap index almost flat, down by 0.01%. Healthcare stocks outperformed the market, with the Nifty Healthcare index rising by 1.24% and the Nifty Pharma index gaining 1.08%.
PSU bank stocks showed positive momentum, while media and FMCG stocks faced pressure. The Nifty Media index closed 0.68% lower, and the Nifty FMCG index slipped by 0.16%. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers, purchasing shares worth Rs 3,024.50 crore on February 25, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities worth Rs 3,639.97 crore during the same session.
Analysts noted that the market remained range-bound, with selective buying in defensive sectors like healthcare, despite weakness in broader indices. Positive global cues from technology and metals initially boosted sentiment, but gains faded as investors opted to reduce exposure at higher levels rather than chase momentum.
