Sensex, Nifty Flat in Pre-Market; IT, Smallcaps Outperform | July 18, 2025
Sensex and Nifty flat in pre-market on July 18, 2025; IT, small caps, and defensives outperform. Watch for earnings, Fed signals, and sector rotation.
Sensex, Nifty Flat in Pre-Market; IT, Smallcaps, Defensives Outperform | July 18, 2025, 9:07 AM IST
Indian equities started flat on Friday, July 18, 2025, as investors gauge fresh triggers in a mixed global environment. The Sensex opened at 82,193.62 (-65.62 / -0.08%), and the Nifty 50 drifted to 25,108.55 (-2.90 / -0.01%) in the pre-market session. In contrast, IT, smallcap, and defensive stocks led early gainers.
Market Snapshot
| Index | Price | Change | % Chg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 25,108.55 | -2.90 | -0.01% |
| Sensex | 82,193.62 | -65.62 | -0.08% |
| Nifty Bank | 56,524.25 | -304.55 | -0.54% |
| Nifty IT | 37,366.70 | +228.15 | +0.61% |
| BSE SmallCap | 55,737.30 | +97.68 | +0.18% |
| BSE MidCap | 47,127.30 | +61.30 | +0.13% |
Trend & What to Watch
- IT & Tech stocks rebound: Nifty IT up 0.61% on bargain buying and sector rotation. Watch for follow-through in TCS, HCLTech, Tech Mahindra.
- Broader market strength: Smallcap and midcap indices trade firm, signaling sustained domestic flows into broader themes.
- Banks under pressure: Nifty Bank slips over 0.5%, dragged by profit-taking in HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and select PSU names. Monitor for reversal clues.
- Defensives & cyclicals advance: Auto, capital goods, FMCG, healthcare, and metals record mild gains, supporting the underlying breadth.
- Muted headline indices: Flat open for Nifty and Sensex indicates a wait-and-watch mood amid lack of aggressive foreign institutional activity.
Market Prediction & Catalysts
- Range-bound action likely: Nifty has immediate support at 25,050 and faces resistance at 25,220. A breakout is possible if IT and defensives extend gains.
- Earnings season: Results from index names like ICICI Bank, HUL, and Ultratech Cement can cause sector-specific action.
- Global triggers: Awaiting clarity on US Fed commentary and global risk sentiment; overnight US and Asian markets were subdued.
- Rotational flows: Investors may keep shifting between defensives and cyclicals, favoring stock pickers and short-term traders.
Trading Ideas & Stocks to Watch
- Tech, FMCG, and Auto: Keep an eye on Tata Motors, HUL, Bajaj Finance post-results.
- IT Outperformance: Momentum could build in Infosys, LTI Mindtree, Tech Mahindra.
- Banking Recovery: Watch for reversal signals in Kotak Bank, HDFC Bank, SBI.
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