Sensex, Nifty Drop in Afternoon; Metals Outperform, Banks Drag | July 18, 2025
Sensex and Nifty decline in afternoon trading on July 18, 2025, as metals outperform and banking, capital goods, and smallcaps lead losses. Watch for earnings, support, and sector rotation.
Sensex, Nifty Drop in Afternoon; Metals Outperform, Banks and Caps Drag | July 18, 2025 – 2:35 PM IST
Indian stocks continued to slide through Friday afternoon with broad selloff across most sectors, barring metals and select IT names. Trading volumes remained elevated as investors reacted to continued foreign selling, margin worries, and rotation out of financials and capital goods.
👉 Market Snapshot (2:35 PM IST)
| Index | Price | Change | % Chg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 25,003.65 | -107.80 | -0.43% |
| Sensex | 81,867.00 | -392.24 | -0.48% |
| Nifty Bank | 56,429.40 | -399.40 | -0.70% |
| Nifty IT | 37,172.95 | +34.40 | +0.09% |
| BSE SmallCap | 55,355.26 | -284.36 | -0.51% |
| BSE MidCap | 46,876.42 | -189.58 | -0.40% |
| Nifty Auto | 23,929.40 | -73.10 | -0.30% |
| BSE Cap Goods | 70,464.76 | -806.65 | -1.13% |
| BSE Cons Durable | 59,915.01 | -419.60 | -0.70% |
| BSE FMCG | 20,840.52 | -95.27 | -0.46% |
| BSE Healthcare | 45,149.18 | -260.66 | -0.57% |
| BSE Metals | 31,433.18 | +108.48 | +0.35% |
| BSE Oil & Gas | 27,937.03 | -63.82 | -0.23% |
| BSE Teck | 17,881.73 | -44.07 | -0.25% |
| Nifty PSE | 9,986.20 | -50.55 | -0.50% |
⚡ Market Trends & Afternoon Insights
- Banks and capital goods hit hard: Nifty Bank slid 0.7% with persistent selling in major private and PSU banks. BSE Capital Goods fell over 1%, reflecting margin pressures and global demand concerns.
- Metals outshine: BSE Metals gained 0.35%, bucking the overall market trend on renewed buying in steel and non-ferrous stocks amid strong global cues.
- IT stabilizes: After choppy moves all week, Nifty IT edged up 0.09% as bargain hunting lifted select tech majors.
- Defensives in red: FMCG, healthcare, and consumer durables all extended losses, showing risk-off sentiment and sector rotation out of non-cyclicals.
- Smallcap, midcap pain: Broader indices declined on profit taking and rising volatility, as traders trimmed exposure ahead of weekend risk.
🔎 What to Watch Out For
- Support Levels: Nifty 50 may find support near 24,950; a breach could accelerate selling towards 24,800. For Sensex, 81,500 is the next key zone.
- Resistance: Any bounce is likely capped at 25,100–25,150 without a sharp reversal in bank or cap goods sectors.
- IT & Metal leadership: Watch mid-session trends in metal and IT stocks—outperformance here may cushion indices if selling intensifies elsewhere.
- Stock-specific action:
- Metals: Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Hindalco may lead upside.
- IT: HCLTech, Infosys, and TCS could see stock-specific surges on renewed rotation.
- Banks/Fin: HDFC Bank, SBI, and ICICI Bank are crucial for a late recovery attempt.
- Macro Triggers: Earnings from major banks (ICICI Bank), FMCG majors (HUL/Ultratech), and global market signals remain primary drivers for market direction into the close.
🛡️ Prediction & Trading Ideas
- Short-term trend remains negative unless banks rebound strongly.
- Defensives and smallcaps may stay under pressure, while metals and IT could emerge as relative havens if risk-off continues.
- Monitor Nifty VIX, foreign flows, and any earnings surprises for a potential reversal.
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