Indian Stock Market News Today - October 18, 2025
Market Summary
The Indian stock market is currently closed today, October 18, 2025, in observance of Dhanteras and the weekend. The next trading session will resume on Monday, October 20, 2025, with the market expected to open with festive optimism as Diwali approaches. Despite today's closure, the market sentiment remains bullish following strong performances over the past week.
Recent Market Performance
Last week, the BSE Sensex surged by 1,451 points (1.75%) to close at 83,952.19, while the Nifty 50 gained 424 points (1.67%) to finish at 25,709.85. This marked the third consecutive weekly gain and the best performance in nearly four months. The positive momentum was driven by robust quarterly earnings from major companies, a decline in crude oil prices, and speculations about an upcoming U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
Sector Highlights
Real Estate and Capital Goods: Leading with gains around 4%, reflecting renewed investor interest.
FMCG and Auto Stocks: Gained 2-3%, fueled by steady domestic demand during the festive season.
Banking & Financials: Giants like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and SBI showed strength due to credit growth and stable NPAs.
Energy & Power: Benefited from softening crude prices, lifting companies like Adani Power and NTPC.
IT Sector: Experienced mild corrections due to concerns over the U.S. economic slowdown but remains attractive for long-term investors.
Global Market Impact
Global markets influence Indian equities significantly. U.S. indices like the Dow Jones and S&P 500 showed mild positivity on rate cut expectations. Crude oil trading around $74–76 per barrel provides relief to India's import bill, while the Indian Rupee recovered by 72 paise against the dollar to close near 87.97, supporting import-dependent sectors.
Technical Market Outlook
Nifty 50 is consolidating near 25,700 with key support at 25,500 and resistance at 25,900–26,000.
Bank Nifty is stable above 57,700, with a bullish bias.
Technical indicators like RSI and MACD suggest bullish momentum but caution over short-term overbought conditions.
Muhurat Trading Session
Uniquely this year, the stock market will remain open for full-day trading on October 20, the day of Diwali, deviating from tradition. The special Muhurat Trading session, an auspicious symbolic event marking the new Samvat year (Samvat 2082), will be held on Tuesday, October 21, from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM, with a pre-open session at 1:30 PM. This event historically encourages new investments and is seen as a gesture of optimism and prosperity by investors.
Consequences and Outlook
Investors' Portfolio Strategy: The market is expected to enter a healthy consolidation phase with opportunities to start fresh rallies during the festive and post-festive period.
Short-Term Volatility: Thin trading volumes during the Muhurat session may cause volatility but are generally less about profit and more about symbolic market resets.
Long-Term Growth: India's economic fundamentals remain strong, with GDP growth around 7.8% year-on-year and manageable inflation driving investor confidence.
Market Participation: Retail investor participation is increasing, not only from metropolitan cities but also from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, indicating a broader base of market engagement.
Festive Season Effect: Banking, infrastructure, and consumer durable stocks are favored sectors during this period, aligning with rising festive demand and economic recovery patterns.
Investors are advised to balance their portfolios with a mix of defensive and growth stocks and consider fresh investments during the Muhurat Trading session as a symbolic and strategic move aligned with the new financial year.
This encapsulation provides a comprehensive view of the current stock market status ahead of the Diwali season, its immediate past performance, sector-wise updates, technical outlook, global influence, and the significance of the upcoming Muhurat trading session alongside expected market consequences.