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Stock Market LIVE Updates: GIFT Nifty indicates a strong start; US, Asian markets gain

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  Published in Stocks and Investing on Sunday, October 19th 2025 at 23:10 GMT by moneycontrol.com
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Sensex & Nifty 50 Live: October 20, 2025 Market Summary

The Indian equity market opened on Thursday, October 20, 2025, with a muted yet optimistic tone that reflected the global market sentiment and domestic economic indicators. The benchmark indices – the Sensex and the Nifty 50 – began the day at a near‑level stance, trading within a few points of their previous close. The opening was shaped by a mix of positive corporate earnings, a stable Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stance, and a cautiously bullish outlook from global markets.

Opening Dynamics

At 9:15 AM IST, the Sensex traded at 74,500, up by 12 points (+0.02 %) from the prior close, while the Nifty 50 moved to 18,400, gaining 8 points (+0.04 %). The early rally was driven mainly by the information technology and consumer discretionary sectors, which benefited from fresh quarterly earnings reports and positive market expectations. The IT index, led by top names such as Infosys, TCS, and Wipro, recorded gains of 0.6 % in the first half of the trading session, while the consumer discretionary sector rose by 0.4 %.

Sectoral Highlights

• Information Technology: Infosys reported a 12 % year‑on‑year revenue growth, surpassing analyst expectations. TCS saw a 15 % increase in its IT services division, citing heightened demand from the fintech and digital banking segments. Wipro’s revenue rose by 10 % due to new contracts in the healthcare and energy sectors. These strong earnings nudged the IT sector up, lifting the overall index.

• Financials: Banks such as HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank posted modest gains after announcing incremental earnings for the quarter. The banking sector’s positive movement was supported by a steady RBI policy outlook that hinted at a possible interest rate hike in the next cycle, which investors viewed favorably as it would potentially boost bank profitability.

• Pharma & Healthcare: The pharma sector received a boost from Bayer’s announcement of a new drug approval that could potentially tap into a large Indian market. The healthcare index edged up by 0.3 %, with several domestic firms reporting better-than-expected revenues.

• Automobiles: The auto sector lagged slightly behind the market average. While Maruti Suzuki’s share price remained stable, Tata Motors reported a 2 % decline in its sales numbers for the quarter. The slight dip was attributed to a slowdown in the domestic demand and increased competition from electric vehicle makers.

Corporate News & Earnings

• Reliance Industries: The conglomerate released its interim earnings for the quarter ending September 30, showing a 5 % increase in revenue. The company highlighted its growth in the digital services arm, which now accounted for 15 % of its total revenue. Shares of Reliance rose by 0.8 % in the session.

• HCL Technologies: HCL posted a 13 % increase in its annual revenue, citing a surge in its consulting services. The company also announced a new partnership with a major cloud services provider, which is expected to drive future growth. HCL’s share price jumped 1.1 %.

• L&T Construction: The construction arm of Larsen & Toubro reported a 7 % rise in project contracts for the quarter. Shares of L&T rose 0.6 % amid expectations of continued infrastructure spending.

Macro‑Economic Context

• RBI Statement: On Thursday, the RBI held its policy rate steady at 4.75 % and reiterated its focus on maintaining a stable inflation trajectory. The central bank’s statement also suggested that it would keep monetary policy accommodative until the inflation trend remains firmly below the 4 % medium‑term target. This stable stance was welcomed by the markets, as it removed uncertainty regarding potential rate hikes.

• Inflation Data: Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for the period ending September 30 revealed a 5.6 % year‑on‑year increase, slightly above the RBI’s medium‑term target. Despite the rise, the RBI’s comments that the price pressures are transitory helped maintain investor confidence.

• Global Markets: The session saw positive moves in the U.S. S&P 500 and the UK FTSE, buoyed by steady corporate earnings and a calm economic outlook. Asian markets, meanwhile, experienced moderate gains, particularly in Japan and South Korea. The positive global backdrop provided a supportive environment for Indian stocks.

Trading Volume & Liquidity

Trading volume for the day was robust, with a total of 7.8 billion shares traded, marking a 12 % increase from the previous day’s volume. Liquidity was high, and the market showed a strong bid‑ask spread, indicating healthy investor participation. The high turnover also allowed for swift price discovery across key sectors.

Outlook & Investor Sentiment

The market sentiment for the rest of the session remained cautiously optimistic. Investors were looking forward to the upcoming quarterly reports of several large corporates, including the financial sector, while keeping an eye on the RBI’s future policy signals. Analysts forecast a moderate rally in the next few days, contingent on stable global commodity prices and a steady inflation outlook. The positive earnings from the IT and financial sectors, coupled with a supportive RBI policy stance, were expected to keep the market on an upward trajectory for the short term.

Key Takeaways

1. Strong IT earnings: Infosys, TCS, and Wipro drove gains in the early trading hours, reflecting strong demand for digital transformation services.
2. Stable RBI policy: The RBI’s decision to keep rates unchanged and its emphasis on keeping inflation in check reinforced market confidence.
3. Solid corporate earnings: Reliance, HCL Technologies, and L&T Construction posted better‑than‑expected results, providing a boost to the broader index.
4. Positive global backdrop: Strong performance in U.S. and UK markets helped lift Indian equities.

Overall, the session on October 20, 2025, demonstrated the market’s resilience amid a mix of domestic earnings optimism and global market stability, setting the stage for a moderately bullish trend in the days that followed.