Stock Exchange Update: Axis Bank Underperforms, Wipro Outpaces; Focus Shifts to Reliance's Q1 Performance
**Indian Stock Market Faces Third Weekly Loss Amidst Weak Corporate Earnings and Foreign Selling (July 18, 2025)**
The Indian stock market experienced a downturn on July 18, 2025, with the Nifty closing down 143 points to 24,968 and the Sensex falling 502 points to 81,757.73. A significant factor behind this decline was disappointing quarterly results from major companies, particularly in the banking sector.
Axis Bank reported weaker numbers, including a rise in bad loans, causing its stock to drop by around 5%. This sector-specific weakness spilled over into broader market sentiment, with banking stocks dragging the indices lower. However, some sectors managed to post gains, such as the Nifty Realty index, which rose by 3.84% for the week.
Trade talks between the US and India and global trade dynamics may have contributed to a cautious market ahead of key macro events. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) were net sellers during the week, offloading $1.09 billion in Indian equities, suggesting caution among foreign investors.
Technically, the Nifty and Sensex formed a "bearish candle" on daily charts and a "lower top formation" on intraday charts, indicating continued selling pressure and a negative short-term bias. Market experts note that as long as the Nifty and Sensex remain below 25,200 and 82,500, respectively, the weak sentiment is likely to persist.
In other news, Wipro posted strong earnings supported by better demand in international markets, pushing its stock higher by over 3%. Zydus Lifesciences reported a 19% revenue growth, and Venus Remedies saw strong buying interest, gaining 26% over the past month.
Upcoming events include quarterly results from Reliance Industries, JSW Steel, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank, which could set the market's tone for the next week. Analysts expect mid-cap stocks to perform better due to local consumption and infrastructure development. UPL Ltd and Varun Beverages are highlighted as promising stocks under ₹100 due to favorable technical patterns and expected earnings improvement.
As of the current trading session, the NSE Nifty50 is fluctuating between 25,080 and 25,100, down by around 0.15% to 0.30%. Foreign investors continue to sell Indian stocks, pulling out around ₹3,700 crore. The outcome of US-India trade negotiations and global market sentiment continue to be closely watched.
Investors might want to reconsider their strategy for the upcoming week, given that the Indian stock market has faced a third weekly loss due to weak corporate earnings, and foreign selling has continued, with FPIs offloading $1.09 billion in Indian equities. This downturn could potentially impact the investing decisions in the stock-market, particularly in sectors such as finance where companies like Axis Bank have reported weaker numbers and seen drops in their stock prices.
