India`s stock benchmarks hit pause after rally on profit booking

Oct 24, 2025, 11:38 GMT+7
By Bharath Rajeswaran and Vivek Kumar M
Reuters - India's stock benchmarks traded flat on Friday, as investors booked profits following a six-session rally driven by hopes of easing global trade tensions and a potential rebound in domestic corporate earnings.
The Nifty 50fell 0.01% to 25,889.95, while the BSE Sensexshed 0.03% to 84,532.09, as of 9:47 a.m. IST. Both benchmarks had opened about 0.2% higher.
They gained about 3% in the last six sessions, and are trading about 1.5% below record high levels last seen in September 2024.
"Intermittent profit booking after the recent rally cannot be ruled out," said Siddhartha Khemka, head of research, wealth management, at Motilal Oswal Financial Services.
Investors seem hesitant at current levels even if the overall market sentiment remains optimistic, said two analysts.
Ten of the 16 major sectors logged losses. The small-capsand mid-capstraded flat.
Fast-moving consumer goods companiesfell 1.2%, dragged by a 3.6% fall in Hindustan Unileverand 3% drop in Colgate-Palmolive India, after they posted a decline in their September quarter profit.
Metal index gained 1.3%, tracking global metal prices after the White House confirmed a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea next week.
Federal Bankgained 1.5% after an affiliate of U.S. private equity major Blackstonebought a 9.99% stake in the lender.
Defence companies such as Bharat Electronicsand Mazagon Dock rose 1%, while Cochin Shipyard, BEML and Garden Reach Shipbuildersgained about 1.5% each. Bharat Dynamicsrose 2.5%.
The Defence Acquisition Council approved procurement proposals worth about 790 billion rupees. The approvals open up new opportunities for key domestic defence companies, said ICICI Direct Research.
Ciplais up 1.6% for the week, despite a 2.5% drop on the day, after the drug maker signed a distribution and promotion agreement with Eli Lillyto sell weight-loss drugs in India.

Sumber : Reuters