The Indian stock market today wrapped up a volatile midweek session with a flat to slightly positive close. The Sensex edged up by 63 points, ending the day at 82634.48. The broader Nifty 50 index managed to hold above the key psychological mark, closing at 25212.05, up by 16.25 points or 0.06 percent. Both indices marked their second consecutive day of gains, supported by resilience in select sectors and fresh optimism from ongoing earnings reports. While gains were modest, stability at higher levels indicated underlying strength in the market mood.

Sector Performance Highlights
Banking stocks, especially the PSU (public sector unit) banks, led the market higher today. The Nifty PSU Bank index advanced more than 1 percent, with PNB and Punjab & Sind Bank as standout performers. Renewed buying emerged amid speculation of a possible hike in the FDI cap in PSU banks and potential fundraising plans from SBI.

The IT sector posted a positive outing, catching a bid ahead of major earnings announcements. Tech Mahindra and Wipro both gained 2 percent, signaling improved sentiment in anticipation of results and recovery expectations within the sector.

In the Auto sector, Mahindra & Mahindra climbed more than 2 percent, as investors responded to news about potential GST rate cuts on select farm equipment. Other auto majors saw range-bound moves, primarily tracking individual news flows and broader market cues.

The Pharma sector paused after a recent rally, ending a three-day winning streak. Sun Pharma featured among the top losers, indicating some profit booking as the sector digested mixed quarterly signals.

Top 5 Gainers
Mahindra & Mahindra +2.34%
Tech Mahindra +2.17%
Wipro +2.06%
SBI +1.89%
Punjab National Bank +1.45%

Top 5 Losers
Sun Pharma -1.42%
Tata Steel -1.25%
Tata Motors -1.21%
Shriram Finance -2.00%
ICICI Prudential Life -2.80%

FII/DII Net Flows
Foreign institutional investors (FII) and domestic institutional investors (DII) continued to influence daily market liquidity. On July 16 2025, FII participation remained muted amid global volatility and uncertain macro trends. DII inflows provided stability and partly offset foreign outflows. Exact net flow figures for July 16 2025 are not explicitly available as of writing, but the session was marked by balanced flows with marginal DII buying outpacing FII selling.

Key Macro-Economic & Global Drivers
Several macro and global factors shaped the Indian stock market today:
– Ongoing Q1 earnings season generated both optimism and caution as investors dissected results from index heavyweights.
– Reports of a potential India-US trade deal and changes to India’s FDI policy for critical sectors drove sectoral action, especially in banks and IT.
– The Indian rupee traded stable near Rs 86.0 per US dollar, while global markets remained steady amid hopes of continued global recovery.
– Gold prices ticked marginally higher, reflecting underlying risk aversion in commodity markets.
– Domestic consumption and services data continued to show resilience, supporting a positive outlook for broader indices. For broader economic updates and policy releases, see Reserve Bank of India.

What to Watch Next
Investors in the Indian stock market today should track the following themes in coming sessions:
– Continuation of Q1 FY26 earnings and sector outlooks, particularly from large-cap banks, IT, and auto firms
– Progress on the India-US trade talks and any formal announcement on FDI reform
– Potential GST Council updates and implications for cyclical sectors
– Trends in global markets for cues on FII behavior
– Upcoming primary market activity and IPOs—more information available at nextipoindia.com
Stay tuned for further updates and in-depth market analysis as new data emerges.