Signal Above Noise

October 23, 2025 Instagram

Market Summary

Daily Overview

  • The BSE Sensex closed higher by around 130 points, up approximately 0.1%, while the NSE Nifty ended with a 23-point gain, around 0.1%, continuing their winning streak for the sixth consecutive session on 23 October 2025.
  • Sensex and Nifty approached or hit new 52-week highs, with Nifty crossing 26,000 and Sensex nearing or above 85,000, reflecting strong positive momentum in the Indian stock market.
  • Retail investor sentiment was cautiously optimistic, supported by positive earnings expectations, robust festive season sales projections, and recent policy measures including GST rate cuts enhancing corporate earnings outlook.
  • Sectoral performance was mixed with strong buying in IT and media sectors while oil & gas and services sectors faced selling pressure; IT and banking stocks supported the market gains significantly.
  • The Indian rupee traded around 88.7 to the US dollar, reflecting stable currency conditions amidst market optimism and flows of foreign investment.
  • Overall, the market showed confidence backed by anticipated favorable India-US trade developments and fresh foreign investments, reinforcing a positive environment for equities on this day.

Key Indices

NIFTY 50

25,891

0.09%

SENSEX

84,560.65

0.16%

Momentum Snapshot

IndexPrice1D1M1Y
Sensex84,560.650.16%3.48%5.61%
Nifty 5025,8910.09%2.87%5.96%
Nifty Midcap 10059,371-0.06%1.50%5.02%
Nifty Next 5069,434-0.12%-0.30%-2.05%
Nifty Smallcap 25017,246-0.24%-0.06%-1.21%

Sector Highlights

IT +2.21%

IT sector rose 2.21% driven by strong buying in major IT firms like Infosys and HCL Technologies amid optimistic market sentiment and Muhurat trading, reflecting a shift to cautious optimism and expectation of further gains in the sector.

CPSE +0.44%

CPSE sector gained 0.44% possibly supported by broader market optimism linked to government policy stability and steady performance in public sector enterprises, although no specific new policy or earnings announcement was highlighted today.

Media +0.31%

Media sector increased by 0.31%, buoyed by overall positive market mood and marginal gains in related stocks; however, no explicit sector-specific news or regulatory developments were reported today.

PSE -0.20%

PSE sector declined 0.20%, reflecting slight profit booking or muted investor interest in select public sector undertakings despite the broader market positive momentum.

Commodities -0.39%

Commodities sector fell 0.39% influenced by volatility in global commodity prices despite ongoing higher oil prices due to US sanctions on Russian firms; this dynamic caused mixed reactions in the commodities basket.

Sector Scoreboard

Sector1D1W1Y3Y
IT +2.21% +0.24% -15.07% +24.57%
CPSE +0.44% +1.77% -3.91% +143.34%
Media +0.31% -0.37% -22.32% -25.30%
PSE -0.20% +1.63% -6.45% +141.37%
Commodities -0.39% +2.23% +0.82% +64.72%

Movers of the Day

Top Nifty Gainers

Infosys3.81% Infosys surged after the company announced a substantial ₹18,000 crore share buyback in which promoters will not participate, boosting investor sentiment.
HCL Tech2.55% HCL Tech gained as part of a broader rally in the IT sector, fueled by positive momentum from Infosys's major corporate announcement.
TCS2.21% TCS rose in line with the strong performance of the Nifty IT index, which benefited from a positive macroeconomic outlook and renewed investor interest.
Shriram Finance2.07% No significant updates available for this stock.
Axis Bank1.74% Axis Bank touched a new one-year high as multiple brokerages maintained a bullish view on its loan growth and improving asset quality.

Top Nifty Losers

Eternal-2.88% No significant updates available for this stock.
Interglobe Avi-2.10% No significant updates available for this stock.
Eicher Motors-1.91% Eicher Motors declined due to broader concerns about softer passenger vehicle demand reported across the auto sector for the recent quarter.
Bharti Airtel-1.74% No significant updates available for this stock.
UltraTechCement-1.60% No significant updates available for this stock.
Stock Spotlight Of The Day
Infosys
Market Cap
6,35,318 Cr
Current Price
₹1,529
Stock P/E
22.6
Dividend Yield
2.81%
ROCE
37.5%
ROE
28.8%
Shareholding Changes (Impact Factors)
FIIs
QoQ -1.84%
YoY -3.2%
Mild foreign selling
DIIs
QoQ 2.07%
YoY 3.65%
Healthy domestic inflow
Promoters
QoQ -0.31%
YoY -0.13%
Minor reduction
Quarterly Summary (Absolute)
Sales
QoQ Mild rise 5.23%
YoY Mild rise 8.55%
Expenses
QoQ Mild increase 5.01%
YoY Mild increase 8.91%
Operating Profit
QoQ Mild gains 5.95%
YoY Mild gains 7.4%
Net Profit
QoQ Mild gains 6.51%
YoY Healthy growth 13.18%
Profit & Loss (Compounded)
Sales Growth
10 Years12%
5 Years12%
3 Years10%
TTM8%
Profit Growth
10 Years8%
5 Years10%
3 Years6%
TTM4%
Stock Price CAGR
10 Years10%
5 Years6%
3 Years0%
1 Year-18%
Return on Equity
10 Years27%
5 Years30%
3 Years31%
Last Year29%
Fundamentals Corner
This fundamentally strong company, marked by a consistently high Return on Equity (~29%), has seen its stock price suffer due to decelerating long-term sales and profit growth.
However, a recent sharp acceleration in quarterly net profit (13% YoY) that outpaced sales growth signals improving margins, which, combined with a reasonable valuation and healthy dividend, may present an interesting inflection point for investors.
News TidBits
  • Infosys shares jumped over 4%, emerging as a top Nifty gainer and driving a broad-based rally across the entire IT index.
  • The primary catalyst for the surge was the board's approval of a large ₹18,000 crore share buyback, signaling strong confidence in the company's financial health and future prospects.
  • Crucially for retail investors, the company's promoters will not participate in the buyback, which is expected to increase the acceptance ratio for other shareholders.
  • This move is interpreted by the market as a signal that management believes the stock is undervalued and represents an efficient way to return cash to shareholders.
  • The positive sentiment generated by Infosys's announcement had a ripple effect, lifting shares of other major IT companies like TCS and HCL Tech.
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Your biggest investment risk is not market volatility, but paying an excessively high price for a popular stock; the market's collective enthusiasm is often the most expensive fee you will ever pay.

Inside The Fund
ICICI Prudential Value Fund
Fund Size: ₹ 55444.54 Cr NAV: ₹ 532.44 (as on 20th October, 2025)
1 Year
5.49%
Category: 0.02%
2 Year
22.25%
Category: 20.39%
3 Year
23.08%
Category: 21.44%
5 Year
27.35%
Category: 24.38%
10 Year
16.20%
Category: 15.34%
Stocks Added
StockSector1M Change
Bond - Bank Of IndiaPublic sector bank 0.27%
Bond - Infina Finance Pvt. Ltd.Non banking financial company (nbfc) 0.18%
Bond - Small Industries Development Bank Of IndiaFinancial institution 0.09%
Bond - Kotak Mahindra Prime Ltd.Non banking financial company (nbfc) 0.05%
Bond - Bajaj Finance Ltd.Non banking financial company (nbfc) 0.05%
Coal India Ltd.Coal 0.02%
Stocks Removed
StockSector1M Change
Ambuja Cements Ltd.Cement & cement products -0.50%
Zydus Lifesciences Ltd.Pharmaceuticals -0.28%
Top 10 Holdings
StockHolding %1M Change
Reliance Industries Ltd. 7.23% -0.19%
Infosys Ltd. 6.91% 0.67%
HDFC Bank Ltd. 6.48% 0.11%
ICICI Bank Ltd. 6.31% -0.32%
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. 4.53% 0.68%
Axis Bank Ltd. 4.49% 0.27%
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. 4.46% -0.02%
State Bank Of India 3.73% -0.34%
Larsen & Toubro Ltd. 3.49% -0.05%
National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. 2.93% 0.12%

The Common Ground

Shows the commonly added & removed stocks by mutual funds last month

Top Added Top Added (3)
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.2 funds
Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund - Direct Plan - Growth0.01%
Canara Robeco Flexi Cap Fund - Direct Plan - Growth0.09%
Ashok Leyland Ltd.2 funds
SBI Flexi Cap Fund - Direct Plan - Growth1.45%
HSBC Flexi Cap Fund - Direct Plan - Growth0.81%
Britannia Industries Ltd.2 funds
Franklin India Flexi Cap Fund - Direct - Growth0.66%
HSBC Flexi Cap Fund - Direct Plan - Growth0.88%
Top Removed Top Removed (3)
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.2 funds
Motilal Oswal Flexi Cap Fund - Direct Plan - Growth-0.01%
HDFC Flexi Cap Fund - Direct Plan - Growth-0.34%
Tata Motors Ltd.2 funds
Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund - Direct Plan - Growth-0.07%
Franklin India Flexi Cap Fund - Direct - Growth-0.33%
Hyundai Motor India Ltd.2 funds
Aditya Birla Sun Life Flexi Cap Fund - Direct Plan - Growth-0.09%
Bandhan Flexi Cap Fund - Direct Plan - Growth-0.16%
Top News Top News Developments
Headline RBI's Twin Boost: Growth Up, Inflation Down
  • The RBI's decision to keep the repo rate unchanged while upgrading the GDP growth forecast to 6.8% and lowering the inflation forecast to 2.6% for FY26 has created a highly favorable macroeconomic backdrop.
  • This 'goldilocks' scenario of high growth and low inflation directly benefits rate-sensitive sectors like banking, auto, and real estate by supporting credit demand and affordability.
  • Lower inflation boosts real consumer purchasing power, providing a strong tailwind for consumer discretionary and FMCG companies.
  • The stable policy environment reinforces investor confidence, supporting both equity valuations and foreign fund inflows into the market.
Headline Trade Deal Buzz Powers Market Rally
  • Market sentiment is being primarily driven by strong expectations of a favorable US-India trade agreement, which has fueled the Nifty's sixth consecutive day of gains.
  • Sectors with high export exposure are seeing direct benefits, with textile stocks rallying significantly on hopes that US import duties could be slashed from 50% to around 15%.
  • This optimism has been a key factor in attracting Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) back to the Indian market, reversing previous outflows.
  • The prospect of a deal is also strengthening the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar, further improving the outlook for the Indian economy.
Headline Infosys Buyback Ignites IT Sector
  • Infosys's announcement of a massive ₹18,000 crore share buyback acted as a major catalyst, causing its stock to surge and lifting the entire Nifty IT index.
  • The decision for promoters to not participate is a significant positive for retail investors, as it increases the probability of their shares being accepted in the buyback.
  • This corporate action is viewed as a strong signal from management that they believe the company's shares are undervalued, boosting overall investor confidence in the sector.
  • The move creates a positive ripple effect, drawing investor attention back to the IT sector, which had been underperforming, and benefiting peers like TCS and HCL Tech.

FII / DII Snapshot

Yesterday

FII Net: ₹96.72 cr

DII Net: ₹-607.01 cr

September 2025

FII Net: ₹-35301.36 cr

DII Net: ₹65343.59 cr

Daily Flows
DateFII NetDII Net
21-Oct-2025 ₹96.72 cr ₹-607.01 cr
20-Oct-2025 ₹790.45 cr ₹2485.46 cr
17-Oct-2025 ₹308.98 cr ₹1526.61 cr
16-Oct-2025 ₹997.29 cr ₹4076.20 cr
15-Oct-2025 ₹68.64 cr ₹4650.08 cr
Monthly Flows
MonthFII NetDII Net
September 2025 ₹-35301.36 cr ₹65343.59 cr
August 2025 ₹-46902.92 cr ₹94828.55 cr
July 2025 ₹-47666.68 cr ₹60939.16 cr
June 2025 ₹7488.98 cr ₹72673.91 cr
May 2025 ₹11773.25 cr ₹67642.34 cr
April 2025 ₹2735.02 cr ₹28228.45 cr
• Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have reversed their recent selling trend, emerging as net buyers and signaling renewed confidence in the Indian market.
• This shift in FII behavior, including covering short positions and increasing purchases of government bonds, is largely driven by expectations of a favorable US-India trade agreement and India's stable macroeconomic outlook.
• In contrast, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) engaged in significant net selling, likely booking profits after the market's six-day rally, creating a divergence in institutional activity.
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Global Markets

CountryIndex1D1Y3Y
🇮🇩 IndonesiaJakarta Composite1.47%6.23%17.32%
🇬🇧 UKFTSE0.63%15.94%37.38%
🇸🇬 SingaporeStraits Times0.51%23.1%47.99%
🇭🇰 Hong KongHang Seng0.51%26.41%70.7%
🇫🇷 FranceCAC0.50%10.01%36.67%
🇨🇳 ChinaShanghai Composite0.22%19.37%31.73%
🇮🇳 IndiaGIFT NIFTY0.04%6.05%46.44%
🇹🇭 ThailandSET Composite0.00%-11.42%-18.64%
🇩🇪 GermanyDAX-0.17%24.42%89.37%
🇺🇸 USAS&P 500-0.53%15.56%78.69%
🇰🇷 South KoreaKOSPI-0.99%49.64%71.97%
🇯🇵 JapanNikkei 225-1.31%26.71%80.35%
  • Global markets exhibited mixed but mostly positive cues, with US stocks rallying on easing trade tensions and expectations of strong corporate earnings, indirectly supporting the Indian market uplift.
  • Anticipation of an India-US trade deal, potentially reducing tariffs on Indian exports from 50% to approximately 15-16%, bolstered investor sentiment in India and contributed to the market rise.
  • US sanctions on Russian oil companies like Rosneft and Lukoil caused extended gains in oil prices globally, influencing cautious selling in Indian oil & gas stocks but not affecting overall market positivity.
  • Global macroeconomic indicators suggested a moderate recovery in international trade, increasing confidence in export-driven economies like India.
  • Statements from world leaders including President Trump and Prime Minister Modi regarding improved bilateral trade relations added to the global positive sentiment impacting Indian markets.

Emerging Opportunities

Information Technology sector continues to present strong growth potential fueled by global digital transformation trends and robust earnings, making IT companies like Infosys, HCL Tech, and TCS attractive medium- to long-term investments.
Banking and financial services sectors are emerging as promising areas with the Nifty Bank index reaching new highs, supported by strong credit growth and financial inclusion efforts.
Textile and consumer goods sectors show opportunistic value given festive sales momentum and specific stock rallies such as Vardhaman Textiles signaling potential contrarian plays.
Policy developments including easing GST rates and expected India-US trade deal tariff reductions could catalyze export-oriented sectors and manufacturing, creating investment avenues in these areas.
Pharma and healthcare sectors are gaining traction due to rising domestic demand and export potential, bolstered by innovation and capacity expansions, marking them as strategic bets for future growth.

Policy & Regulations

  • The Reserve Bank of India announced significant regulatory reforms for the banking sector, including the implementation of updated Basel III norms and Expected Credit Loss (ECL) models to enhance stability and global alignment.
  • RBI also established a formal monetary policy framework that prioritizes price stability with a clear inflation target, aiming to provide greater transparency and predictability for investors.
  • Separately, SEBI has proposed a standardized process for opening new mutual fund folios which will mandate KYC verification by a registration agency, aiming to streamline investor onboarding and strengthen compliance.

Crypto Buzz

NamePriceMarket Cap24h ChangeATH Change
Bitcoin (BTC) $109561 $2.18T 1.45%-13.22%
Ethereum (ETH) $3884.73 $468.81B 1.46%-21.59%
Tether (USDT) $1 $182.57B -0.02%-24.39%
BNB (BNB) $1098.03 $152.83B 2.37%-19.96%
XRP (XRP) $2.4 $144.13B 0.19%-34.08%
  • The global cryptocurrency market saw a rebound, with major assets like Bitcoin climbing back above the $109,000 level amid broader market gains.
  • In a significant development for Indian investors, cryptocurrency exchange WazirX is set to resume operations on October 24 after a year-long shutdown.
  • WazirX's relaunch, featuring initial zero trading fees and an insurance partnership with BitGo for custody, is expected to boost local trading volumes and investor confidence.