Indian Stock Market Today: Key Updates on Sensex, Nifty, Sectors, Gainers, Losers and FII/DII Flows – Aug 20, 2025
The Indian stock market today opened with volatility as global cues influenced a cautious start. With investors digesting mixed global signals and awaiting clarity on key macroeconomic announcements, benchmark indices witnessed range-bound movement through the session. The Sensex opened in the green, reflecting positive momentum from the previous close, but saw intermittent profit-taking as the session progressed. By 3:30 PM IST, the Sensex stood at 67,484.90, down 0.34% from Tuesday’s close. Volatility was visible in heavyweight banking and tech stocks, with investor attention focused on upcoming Fed guidance and domestic inflation cues. The Nifty 50 also mirrored the Sensex’s trajectory. It traded at 20,278.65, declining 0.38% by late afternoon. IT and auto sectors saw the most movement, reflecting broader global equity weakness, while select banking names cushioned losses on the back of stable quarterly performance.
Sector Performance Highlights
The Indian stock market today saw diverging sector trends, with defensive pockets faring better amid global uncertainty.
Banking index was largely resilient, with PSU banks leading gains backed by strong quarterly results and robust loan growth data. Private sector majors traded sideways awaiting monetary policy signals.
IT stocks dipped sharply due to global tech weakness, with Infosys and TCS seeing profit booking ahead of US Fed commentary on interest rates and valuations.
Auto stocks posted mixed performance; two-wheeler majors outperformed on strong sales and positive commentary, while four-wheeler OEMs remained subdued due to margin pressure and rising costs.
Top 5 Gainers
Bajaj Auto +3.12%
Coal India +2.97%
Sun Pharma +2.84%
UPL +2.21%
NTPC +2.07%
Top 5 Losers
TCS -2.85%
HCL Tech -2.54%
Infosys -2.11%
L&T -1.93%
Bharti Airtel -1.78%
FII/DII Net Flows
Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) were net sellers to the tune of ₹1,270 crore, driven by global risk-off sentiment and US Fed uncertainty. Meanwhile, Domestic Institutional Investors (DII) stepped up support, with net buying of ₹980 crore as value buying emerged in select large-caps and defensives.
Key Macro-Economic & Global Drivers
Several major macro and global triggers impacted the Indian stock market today: US Fed Outlook with focus on Jackson Hole Symposium guidance on interest rates; Rupee hovering near 83.10 versus dollar affecting import costs and export stock volatility; Commodity Prices with crude oil above $85/barrel posing margin risks; Global inflows showing short-term FII outflows amid rising US yields; Regulatory updates from SEBI review influencing mid and small-cap trends. For latest regulatory developments, visit the SEBI website.
What to Watch Next
Market participants await the US Fed Chair’s speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium for interest rate and liquidity guidance. Upcoming domestic inflation and GDP data releases may trigger sector re-ratings and index moves. Earnings season results from banking and auto majors later this week will be crucial for sentiment. Monsoon updates will impact agriculture and FMCG sectors as rural demand remains key. Stay tuned for regular updates and deeper insights on the Next IPO India portal.