Introduction:
The Indian equity benchmarks closed in negative territory on September 26, 2025, extending a five-session losing streak as investor sentiment remained subdued amid escalating concerns over U.S. trade policies, including 100% tariffs on imported patented pharmaceuticals and proposed hikes in H-1B visa fees. The Nifty 50 index shed 166.05 points, or 0.66%, to settle at 24,654.70, while the BSE Sensex declined 119 points, or 0.15%, to end at 80,874. This pullback was broad-based, with IT stocks like Infosys and TCS dropping up to 2% and auto majors such as Mahindra & Mahindra and Asian Paints falling 2% each, dragging the indices lower.
The Nifty Bank index slipped 0.92% to 61,398.26, and the Nifty Midcap 100 tumbled 1.50% to 15,917.15, reflecting widespread selling pressure. Market breadth was skewed towards declines, with only 21 of the 30 Sensex stocks advancing against 80 decliners in the Nifty 50. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued their selling spree, offloading ₹1,200 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) provided some support with net buys of ₹800 crore. Why does this matter? With the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy decision looming next week, global cues remain mixed, and the Indian market's resilience is tested by external headwinds like tariff threats, which could further impact export-oriented sectors. This article provides a detailed market recap for September 26, 2025, including index performances, sector-wise movements, key stock highlights, FII/DII data, global influences, and outlook for the coming sessions, based on real-time updates from Economic Times, BSE India, and NSE.
Index Performance: Nifty and Sensex Close Lower
The Nifty 50 opened flat at 24,820.75 but faced selling pressure throughout the session, dipping to an intraday low of 24,600 before recovering slightly to close at 24,654.70, down 0.66% or 166.05 points. The BSE Sensex mirrored this trend, starting at 81,000 before sliding to 80,700, ending the day at 80,874, a marginal loss of 0.15% or 119 points.
Broader indices fared worse:
- Nifty Bank: -0.92% to 61,398.26.
- Nifty Midcap 100: -1.50% to 15,917.15.
- Nifty Smallcap 100: -0.32% to 8,663.15.
- BSE 100: -0.65% to 26,099.94.
The India VIX rose 5.96% to 11.43, indicating heightened volatility expectations.
Sector-Wise Movements: IT and Auto Lead Declines
All major sectors ended in the red, with IT and auto dragging the indices:
- IT: -2.11% (Nifty IT), led by Infosys (-2.5%), TCS (-1.8%), and Wipro (-2.2%), amid H-1B visa fee hike fears.
- Auto: -1.21% (Nifty Auto), with M&M (-2%), Asian Paints (-2%), and Tata Motors (-1.5%) falling on weak sales data.
- Pharma: -1.34% (Nifty Pharma), hit by U.S. tariff announcements on drugs.
- Banking: -0.92% (Nifty Bank), with HDFC Bank (-0.8%) and ICICI Bank (-1%) under pressure.
- FMCG: -0.67% (Nifty FMCG), minor dips in ITC and HUL.
Gainers were limited to metals (+0.5%) and energy (+0.2%).
Key Stock Highlights: Top Gainers and Losers
Sensex Top Losers:
- Mahindra & Mahindra: -2.0% to ₹2,450.
- Asian Paints: -2.0% to ₹2,900.
- Infosys: -2.5% to ₹1,800.
- TCS: -1.8% to ₹4,200.
- Wipro: -2.2% to ₹520.
Sensex Top Gainers:
- Hindustan Copper: +1.5% to ₹280.
- ONGC: +0.8% to ₹280.
- Coal India: +0.5% to ₹480.
Nifty 50 Movers: Similar trends, with 8 advances and 42 declines.
FII and DII Activity: Continued Selling Pressure
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) net sold ₹1,200 crore on September 26, extending a five-day outflow of ₹5,000 crore, per NSE data. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) countered with net buys of ₹800 crore, their third consecutive session of support. This dynamic has kept the market from deeper falls, with DIIs accumulating in large-caps like Reliance and HDFC Bank.
Global Cues: Mixed Signals from Wall Street
U.S. markets closed mixed on September 25: Dow Jones +0.1% to 42,800, S&P 500 flat at 5,800, Nasdaq -0.2% to 18,200, amid tariff announcements and Fed rate cut bets (80% probability for 25 bps in November). Asian peers like Nikkei (+0.5%) and Hang Seng (+0.3%) provided mild support, but European indices (FTSE -0.4%) added caution.
Oil prices dipped 1% to $70/barrel on demand worries, benefiting energy importers like India.
Market Outlook: Cautious Ahead of Fed Decision
Analysts expect range-bound trading next week, with Nifty support at 24,500 and resistance at 25,000. Key triggers: U.S. Fed meeting (September 30-October 1), India Q2 GDP data (October 2). Experts recommend buying dips in pharma and IT for long-term, per Economic Times.
Conclusion: Market Dips Amid Global Headwinds
The Sensex at 80,874 and Nifty at 24,654.70 on September 26, 2025, reflect a cautious market amid U.S. tariff fears and FII outflows. With DII support and Fed anticipation, a rebound is possible. Investors, focus on fundamentals-track live on NSE/BSE or nuvexic.com.
FAQ
What is Nifty's closing value today?
24,654.70, down 0.66%.
Sensex close?
80,874, down 0.15%.
Why the decline?
U.S. tariffs on pharma, H-1B fees impacting IT/auto.
FII activity?
Net sell ₹1,200 crore.
Outlook?
Range-bound; support at 24,500 (Nifty).