Indian markets closed Thursday’s session in the red, weighed down by weakness across major sectors. The Sensex slipped 0.70% to close at 84,404.46, while the Nifty ended 0.68% lower at 25,877.85. The Nifty Bank also lost ground, settling 0.61% down at 58,031.
“As expected, the U.S. Fed cut interest rates by 25 bps. However, the market consolidated after Powell indicated that this might be the last rate cut of 2025, tempering hopes of further monetary easing. The resulting strength in the U.S. dollar contributed to a risk-off sentiment across emerging markets, including India. Domestically, mixed Q2 earnings and the F&O expiry led to market volatility. Meanwhile, investors remain watchful of the Trump–Xi trade negotiations, as the prevailing uncertainty around the discussions continues to keep market sentiment cautious,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments.
Let’s take a look at the key highlights of today’s trading session-
Top gainers
Despite the weak market tone, a few names managed to stand tall. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bharat Electronics (BEL) emerged as the day’s top performers,
Other gainers include UltraTech Cement, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV), and Adani Ports.
Top losers
On the losing side, Bharti Airtel, Power Grid, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, and Reliance Industries were among the key laggards.
Midday movers
The mid-session saw sharp moves in select mid- and small-cap names. Sagility surged over 12% in intraday trade, continuing its strong upward momentum.
In contrast, Vodafone Idea tumbled more than 12% after clarity emerged on the Supreme Court’s verdict regarding its Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues.
LIC Housing Finance lost over 4% post its Q2 earnings, while BHEL rallied nearly 5% after reporting a 254% jump in consolidated net profit for Q2FY26 to Rs 375 crore.
Travel tech firm Ixigo (Le Travenues Technology) also came under heavy pressure, sliding over 17% after announcing its September-quarter results.
Earnings to watch
Investors will now turn their attention to another busy earnings day on October 31, with major names like Bharat Electronics (BEL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), Bank of Baroda, GAIL (India), Godrej Consumer Products, Maruti Suzuki, and Shriram Finance scheduled to release their September-quarter numbers.
Other companies lined up include ACC, Balkrishna Industries, Dhanuka Agritech, Equitas Small Finance Bank, Lal PathLabs, Mahindra Lifespace, MedPlus Health, NOCIL, Phoenix Mills, Schaeffler India, and Zensar Technologies.
