On December 6, 2024, Indian equity markets experienced a slight downturn, with the BSE Sensex closing at 81,709.12, down 56.74 points or 0.07%. The Nifty 50 also saw a decrease, ending at 24,677.80, down 30.60 points or 0.12%. This decline followed a previous surge driven by heavyweight IT stocks and positive comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who described the U.S. economy as 'remarkably good' [af811594][3e70ba23].
Despite the recent drop, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued to show confidence in the Indian market, purchasing equities worth ₹8,539.91 crore over the past three sessions. In contrast, domestic investors sold shares worth ₹2,303.65 crore, indicating a mixed sentiment among local investors [d9317dfe].
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintained the repo rate at 6.5% for the 11th consecutive meeting but reduced the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by 50 basis points to 4%. This decision comes amid a downward revision of the GDP growth estimate to 6.6% for FY2025 and an increase in the retail inflation forecast to 4.8% [d9317dfe].
In the corporate sector, RattanIndia Enterprises reported a remarkable 197% year-on-year growth in vehicle sales for November 2024. Tata Motors inaugurated a new vehicle scrapping facility in Pune, while Mahindra & Mahindra announced a 12.05% rise in overall auto sales during the same month. Additionally, SpiceJet secured rights to operate Haj flights in 2025, and Gland Pharma received USFDA approval for its Latanoprost Ophthalmic Solution [d9317dfe].
Looking ahead, Morgan Stanley has identified a gradual cyclical recovery for Indian IT companies, recommending stocks such as Infosys Ltd. and Coforge Ltd. for near-term guidance upgrades. LTIMindtree Ltd. is also favored, despite mixed analyst opinions. The firm expects growth rates in the IT sector to improve in 2025 (FY26) due to a benign cost environment, although concerns remain regarding the impact of generative AI on IT services [e0fe5e1f].
Yogesh Patil, Chief Investment Officer of LIC Mutual Fund AMC, predicts that sectors such as capital goods, pharmaceuticals, IT exports, banks, and non-banking financial companies are likely to outperform in 2025. He highlights that while Q2 earnings were subdued, optimism exists for Q3 due to festive demand. However, he cautions that market volatility may arise from liquidity issues, economic outlook, and geopolitical factors, including potential impacts from a Trump victory on tariffs and trade policies affecting sectors like auto ancillaries and pharma [e7856621].
The ongoing developments in the stock market, particularly concerning major companies like Hero MotoCorp and Torrent Pharmaceuticals, continue to capture investor interest as they navigate this fluctuating landscape. Analysts remain cautiously optimistic about future trends, especially with the backdrop of Powell's remarks and the RBI's monetary policy adjustments [0ef979cd][af811594].