The NIFTY50 index managed to maintain its crucial 25,000 support level despite breaking a 14-day winning streak, reflecting mixed market sentiment. Weak global cues, including a downturn in U.S. markets, caused the index to open with a gap down, mirroring trends seen across other Asian markets. However, selective buying in heavyweight shares helped limit losses, giving investors new shares to buy amid the volatility.
Sectoral performance: Healthcare and FMCG shine
While the overall market faced a downward trend, specific sectors like healthcare and FMCG provided much-needed stability. Defensive stocks in healthcare rose by 0.8%, and FMCG followed with a 0.4% increase, making them prime shares to buy for investors seeking stable returns. Conversely, PSU banks and IT stocks were the biggest drag, with PSU banks declining by 1.6% and IT shedding 0.9%.
These trends emphasised the resilience of defensive sectors, positioning them as ideal shares to buy in uncertain market conditions. Pharma and FMCG sectors, which offer a strong growth potential, stood out as top performers, aiding the broader market's recovery.
Technical outlook: NIFTY50 remains positive
From a technical perspective, the NIFTY50 index's structure remains optimistic, as it protected the key support zone between 25,150 and 25,200 on a closing basis. Although the index dipped below this zone during the trading session, it successfully recovered over 100 points from the day's lows. This technical rebound highlighted the index's potential for further upward movement, making it a crucial period for investors seeking shares to buy in anticipation of future gains.
Immediate resistance for the index is now around the 24,350 mark, where call options are heavily concentrated. Should the index break through this resistance, it could trigger a fresh round of buying activity.
On the downside, any slip below the 25,100 level could signal short-term weakness. Still, the index is likely to find solid support around this zone, providing an opportunity for positional traders to explore shares to buy at more attractive levels.
Top movers: Stocks that made headlines
In terms of individual stock performance, Asian Paints emerged as the top gainer in the NIFTY50 index, advancing by 2.5%, while Wipro faced the steepest drop, declining by 3%. These movements presented opportunities for investors to identify potential shares to buy or reconsider existing holdings, depending on their market outlook.
Meanwhile, the broader markets showcased a strong recovery, with the NIFTY Midcap 100 index losing a marginal 0.1% and the NIFTY Smallcap 100 index ending the session flat. This rebound indicated growing investor interest in mid and smallcap stocks, as these segments continue to offer high-growth shares to buy in a fluctuating market environment.
Midcap and smallcap highlights
The top gainer in the NIFTY Midcap 100 was Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, which surged by 7.4%, demonstrating robust demand. Oil India, on the other hand, was the biggest laggard, falling by 6.2%. These shifts offered valuable insights into the midcap space, with certain stocks emerging as attractive shares to buy for long-term gains.
In the NIFTY Smallcap 100 index, PNB Housing Finance topped the list of gainers with a 5.2% increase, while RBL Bank suffered a 4% drop, making it a potential candidate for reassessment in portfolios. The strong performance of specific smallcap stocks reflects their potential to outperform larger indices, offering additional shares to buy for growth-oriented investors.
Key takeaways for investors
As the NIFTY50 holds its critical 25,000 support level, the focus shifts to sectors like healthcare and FMCG, which continue to lead the recovery. For investors, this presents opportunities to look for stable and growth-oriented shares to buy across these defensive sectors. The overall market remains technically positive, with immediate resistance around 24,350 and support near 25,100.
With selective stock buying helping to limit losses and the broader market showing signs of recovery, it's a pivotal time for investors to reassess their portfolios and explore new shares to buy to capitalise on upcoming trends.