Stock Market Live: Sensex ends 501 points lower, Nifty below 25K; Axis Bank, BEL, Kotak Bank top losers

Indian equity markets ended the week on a mixed note, with benchmark indices Nifty 50 and Sensex declining by 1% each, reflecting cautious sentiment among large-cap investors.

In contrast, broader markets outperformed, as small-cap stocks rose 1.4% and mid-caps gained 1% over the week, indicating continued interest in select segments beyond the frontline indices.

"A broad-based sell-off was observed in the national market amidst a disappointing initial set of earnings from the finance and IT sectors. Elevated valuations in large-cap stocks, coupled with significant net short positions held by FIIs, have contributed to a cautious sentiment among investors. Moreover, additional tariff threats are also casting a shadow on India over its trade relationship with Russia,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited.

“Despite these pressures, the medium- to long-term outlook for India remains optimistic, supported by low inflation levels and proactive monetary authority committed to sustaining economic growth."

The market breadth was negative, with 2391 out of 4208 stocks trading on the BSE declined, while 1,658 advanced, and 159 ended unchanged.

As many as 143 stocks hit their 52-week highs, while 45 slipped to their 52-week lows. Adding to it, 292 stocks were locked in its upper circuit limit, while 178 slipped to their lower circuit limit.

Extending losses for the second straight session, Indian benchmark indices ended lower on Friday amid rising global uncertainty and weak investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex ended 501.5 points, or 0.61%, lower at 81,757.73, and the NSE Nifty fell 143 points, or 0.57%, to settle at 24,968.40.  

During the session, the 30-share Sensex declined as much as 651 points, or 0.8%, to hit an intraday low of 81,608, and the 50-share Nifty fell 193 points, or 0.76%, to 24,919 level. The market saw broad-based selling, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices falling up to 0.8% during the trade so far.

Equity markets continued to drift lower for the second straight session on Thursday, as concerns over macroeconomic stability weighed on investor sentiment. The Sensex declined as much as 650 points, while the Nifty50 also slipped below the crucial 25,000 level.

“The major reasons for the fall are driven by a combination of weak earnings, banking and IT sector drag, foreign investor selling, technical breakdowns, and broader macro uncertainties. Maintaining a cautious stance, with attention to upcoming earnings announcements and developments in trade policy, is prudent in the current environment,” said Khushi Mistry, Research Analyst at Bonanza.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) has announced the launch of two new hybrid television channels—Zee Power in Karnataka and Zee BanglaSonar in West Bengal—as part of a broader effort to reposition itself as a content-tech network. Both channels are set to go on air in August 2025, accompanied by state-wide multimedia campaigns.

The share price of LTIMindtree Ltd dropped by over 1.7% today, trading around ₹5,106, even as the IT services company reported a decent set of Q1FY26 numbers broadly in line with Street expectations.

Reliance Industries Ltd, which will reveal its Q1 FY26 results today, saw its share price inch up by 0.57% in early morning trade.

Clean Science and Technology shares fell by about 7% today over its Q1 FY26 results.

For its Q1 results, the company's revenue rose by 8% compared to the same quarter last year, while its EBITDA rose by 5% on a YoY basis. However, the company's margins for the same quarter narrowed by 41.7%, while its net profit increased by 6%.

Wipro’s share price climbed 4% in early trade on Friday, following the release of its Q1FY26 results after market hours on Thursday. The company also announced a dividend, adding to the positive sentiment.

The Bengaluru-based IT firm posted a consolidated net profit of ₹3,336 crore, up 10% year-on-year, though down 7% sequentially.

In terms of constant currency, revenue stood at $2,590 million, declining 2% quarter-on-quarter and 2.3% year-on-year, but still exceeding market expectations. Revenue from the IT services segment came in at $2,587.4 million, registering a 0.3% sequential decline and a 1.5% drop compared to the previous year.

Shares of Axis Bank dropped over 4% in opening trade today after the private lender released its June quarter earnings report. The bank posted a 3.8% decline in standalone net profit to ₹5,806.1 crore, while net interest income (NII) increased marginally by 0.8% to ₹13,559.8 crore.