The Indian stock market opened flat but faced sustained selling pressure on December 18, 2025, as global tech weakness weighed on sentiment. The Nifty 50 slipped below the critical 25,800 mark, signaling risk of a deeper correction if it breaches 25,750-25,700 support levels. Midcap and smallcap segments continued to struggle, while select pockets like consumer internet and metals showed resilience. FIIs returned as net buyers after 14 sessions, providing some cushion, alongside a sharp rupee rebound.
- Benchmarks remained cautious with Nifty closing weak after breaking below 25,800; immediate support lies at 25,750-25,700, while resistance is seen at 25,950-26,050.
- GIFT Nifty signaled a flat-to-negative start, reflecting overnight Wall Street tech selloff and declines in major Asian indices.
- India VIX recorded its lowest closing in history, indicating reduced fear but also complacency among traders.
- A break below the previous week’s low could trigger sharper bearish momentum; traders are closely watching the 50-day DEMA for Nifty and Wednesday’s low for Bank Nifty as potential support zones.
- FIIs turned net buyers with inflows of ₹1,172 crore—the first positive session in 14 trading days—while DIIs added ₹769 crore, offering short-term stability.
- Metals & Mining: Vedanta and Hindustan Zinc led gains; Vedanta hit a fresh 52-week high, up 2%, on optimism around its demerger unlocking value, while Hindustan Zinc jumped 3% as silver futures crossed ₹2.05 lakh/kg.
- Consumer Internet: Meesho stood out with a new lifetime high and 20% rally after UBS initiated a ‘Buy’ rating, pushing its market cap close to ₹1 lakh crore—up 95% from its IPO price in just six sessions.
- Aviation: IndiGo and SpiceJet faced turbulence amid operational disruptions during peak travel season; analysts warn of near-term pressure.
- Banking & Financials: Mixed moves with HDFC Bank cutting FD rates post RBI repo cut, while Shriram Finance rose 3% on fundraising buzz and potential MUFG stake deal.
- PSU Banks & IT: Modest gains, while metals and realty dragged broader indices lower.
Key names that attracted volume and analyst attention:
- HCLTech, Cyient, Titagarh Rail Systems, Antony Waste Handling, KP Energy, Paytm, and GE Vernova remained in focus for technical setups and order wins.
- Granules India, SRF, IDFC First Bank, Pricol, and Mahindra Finance featured in trade spotlight strategies.
- Ola Electric Mobility hit an all-time low after founder Bhavish Aggarwal sold nearly 1% stake for ₹142.3 crore.
- Sammaan Capital dropped 5% intraday after Delhi Police filed a fresh FIR against former promoters.
- Nephrocare India saw stake acquisition by Polar Capital and Poonawalla Vision Fund (4% combined).
- Vedanta: NCLT approval paves the way for demerger into five listed entities, with analysts highlighting significant value-unlocking potential and focus on metals cash flows.
- Akzo Nobel India: Shares plunged 13.56% after promoter sold 9-11.4% stake via block deals worth ~₹1,638 crore.
- Reliance Industries: Morgan Stanley maintained bullish stance with up to 20% upside potential, citing long-term growth drivers.
- Adani Ports: Secured ₹1,500 crore order for Vizhinjam port expansion.
- Bharti Airtel: Subsidiary Nxtra Data raised ₹1,000 crore through NCDs.
- Saregama India: Strategic shift—exiting full-scale film production to focus exclusively on Sanjay Leela Bhansali projects; partnership includes investment in Bhansali Productions.
- Shriram Finance: Board meeting ahead for fundraising consideration amid MUFG stake deal speculation.
- SEBI board emphasized that listing-day performance is not a proxy for regulatory success; approved mutual fund expense ratio overhaul with 0.90% cap on index funds/ETFs and brokerage capped at 6 bps.
- Parliament passed bill enabling 100% FDI in insurance, a major boost for the sector.
- SEBI simplified IPO documents (DRHP length cut ~44% to 88 pages) and approved LODR amendments to ease demat credits and physical share transfers.
- Securities Market Code Bill likely to be tabled in Winter session; revamped stockbroker regulations replace 1992 framework for modernized compliance.
- HSBC Flash India Composite PMI cooled to 58.9 (10-month low), reflecting slower momentum in manufacturing and services—watch consumption-linked sectors.
- Unemployment rate fell to 4.7% (eight-month low) driven by rural job gains and higher female participation, supportive for rural and FMCG plays.
- Wholesale inflation narrowed to -0.32% in November, easing deflationary concerns despite persistent food price drag.
- Goods trade deficit shrank to $24.5 billion (five-month low) with exports at $38.13 billion; positive for export-oriented IT, pharma, and auto ancillaries.
- Rupee posted its strongest single-day gain in seven months on RBI support, rebounding from record lows—beneficial for importers but a headwind for exporters.
Strong buy calls emerged across segments:
- Vishal Mega Mart – Target ₹170 (Motilal Oswal)
- Astra Microwave Products – Target ₹1,100 (Motilal Oswal)
- Lloyds Metals and Energy – Target ₹1,610 (Anand Rathi)
- ICICI Prudential AMC – Target ₹3,000 (Prabhudas Lilladher)
- Havells India – Target ₹1,725 (ICICI Securities)
- RBL Bank – Target ₹375 (Emkay Global)
- Neptune Logitek IPO oversubscribed 1.5x on final day.
- Global Ocean Logistics IPO kicked off strongly.
- ICICI Prudential AMC IPO allotment status in focus.
- Centre to divest up to 3% in Indian Overseas Bank via OFS.
- Swiggy raised ₹10,000 crore via QIP, bolstering cash reserves to ~₹17,000 crore.
The Indian market remains in consolidation mode with global cues and upcoming Budget expectations likely to drive near-term direction. Selective stock picking in high-conviction themes—demergers, metals, and consumer internet—offers opportunities amid broader caution. Investors should monitor key support levels and FII flows closely.
Published by Barawakar | Indian Stock Market Highlights – 18 Dec 2025
Stay informed. Stay ahead.