• Domestic benchmark indices ended flat on Thursday, with Adani Ports emerging as the top gainer.
• The market remained flat throughout the day due to holidays and a lack of major triggers.
• The Indian stock market has historically shown resilience in the face of global and domestic challenges.
• The market's performance is influenced by both domestic and global factors, with investors focusing on sectors that show promise of growth.

The domestic benchmark indices ended flat on Thursday, with selling observed in IT, FMCG, metal, media, and private bank sectors on Nifty. Adani Ports emerged as the top gainer, with its shares surging over 5 per cent to Rs 1,243.90. Adani Green Energy also saw a rise, closing Rs 33.20 up, at Rs 1,064.30 apiece. The Sensex settled at 78,472.48, marginally down by 0.39 points, while Nifty ended at 23,750.20, up by 22.55 points or 0.10 per cent.

Nifty Bank ended at 51,170.70, down by 62.30 points, or 0.12 per cent. The Nifty Midcap 100 index closed at 57,125.70 after rising 67.80 points, or 0.12 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index closed at 18,728.65, after dropping 4 points, or 0.02 per cent. On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), 1,639 shares ended in green and 2,329 shares in red, whereas there was no change in 106 shares.

Sectoral Performance and Market Trends

Experts opine that on the last expiry day of the year, the domestic market remained flat throughout the day amidst holidays in peer markets and a lack of major domestic or global triggers. Auto shares saw gains from recent corrections. On the sectoral front, buying was seen in the Auto, PSU Bank, Financial service, Pharma, Realty, Energy, Infra, and Commodities sectors on Nifty.

In the Sensex pack, Adani Ports, M&M, Maruti Suzuki, Sun Pharma, Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Ultra Tech Cement, Power Grid, HCL Tech, SBI, and Tata Steel were the top gainers. Titan, Asian Paints, Zomato, Tech Mahindra, Nestle India, and Reliance were the top losers. Experts also highlighted concerns over FII outflows and the depreciating rupee, given the strengthening US dollar index and worries about potential adverse tariffs and concerns over rate cuts in 2025, which held the muted market trend.

Historical Resilience and Investor Strategies

Historically, the Indian stock market has shown resilience in the face of global and domestic challenges. For instance, during the US elections in 2024, the market remained steady despite uncertainties. Similarly, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the market showed remarkable recovery after initial shocks. The current market scenario seems to be a continuation of this trend, with the market showing stability despite various challenges.

In terms of strategies, investors seem to be focusing on sectors that show promise of growth. For instance, the Auto, PSU Bank, Financial service, Pharma, Realty, Energy, Infra, and Commodities sectors on Nifty saw buying, indicating investor confidence in these sectors. On the other hand, sectors like IT, FMCG, metal, media, and private banks saw selling, indicating a lack of investor confidence.

The market's performance also seems to be influenced by global factors. For instance, the strengthening US dollar index and concerns about potential adverse tariffs and rate cuts in 2025 have impacted the market. This highlights the interconnectedness of the global economy and the influence of global factors on the Indian stock market.