Stock Market 17 July: Nifty Slips Over 100 Points, But Midcaps Hold Ground

Introduction

After a volatile session, the Indian stock market closed in the red on 17 July 2025, weighed down by profit booking in IT, banking, and select large-cap names. While frontline indices retreated, broader markets continued to show resilience, with smallcap and midcap stocks holding firm.

Let’s break down the day’s market action, top gainers, top losers, and the key reasons behind today’s decline.

Market Overview

Despite positive cues in early trade, markets failed to hold on to gains. Both Nifty 50 and Sensex ended lower as traders booked profits in heavyweight sectors amid mixed global cues and cautious institutional flows.

Index	Closing Value	Change	% Change
NIFTY 50	25,111.45	–100.60	–0.40%
SENSEX	82,259.24	–375.24	–0.45%
Nifty Bank	56,846.80	–272.65	–0.48%
Nifty IT	37,471.15	–205.90	–0.55%
BSE SmallCap	55,691.45	+213.59	+0.38%

Top Gainers: Bright Spots Amid Market Weakness

Even though the broader indices ended lower, several midcap and smallcap names posted strong gains. Here are the top five gainers of the day:

1. Sona BLW Precision (+6.80% | ₹486)
   Shares of the auto component major surged on reports of potential supply agreements with global EV players. Strong volumes also indicated increased institutional interest.
2. Thermax (+6.59% | ₹3,885.90)
   The stock rallied after brokerage upgrades and positive commentary on order book momentum. Clean energy and water treatment segments are driving optimism.
3. AWL Agri Business (+6.08% | ₹278.30)
   Despite margin concerns flagged earlier, AWL rebounded on hopes of recovery in edible oil demand and positive management commentary.
4. Alok Industries (+6.01% | ₹22.04)
   A scheduled board meeting regarding restructuring led to speculative buying in this textile stock.
5. Hitachi Energy (+5.01% | ₹19,490)
   The stock continued its uptrend backed by strong industrial demand and robust order pipeline in the energy segment.

Top Losers: Earnings Misses and Profit-Booking Drag Down Select Stocks

On the losing side, a combination of earnings disappointments and profit-taking impacted several counters:

1. Newgen Software (–6.03% | ₹1,025.60)
   The company’s Q1 results missed street expectations, with slower-than-expected revenue growth. Concerns around margin pressure also weighed on sentiment.
2. Jaiprakash Power (–4.29% | ₹22.73)
   After a brief rally earlier this month, the stock slipped as investors booked profits. No fresh positive developments were reported.
3. Network18 (–3.74% | ₹60.78)
   Despite a surprise profit in Q1, the stock declined sharply as traders locked in recent gains.
4. Bharat Dynamics (–3.28% | ₹1,742.90)
   The lack of any major order announcements or updates kept the stock under pressure.
5. Swan Energy (–2.85% | ₹507.05)
   Recent gains were erased amid reports of a possible stake dilution and muted short-term outlook.

Top Gainers vs Top Losers – 17 July 2025

Top Gainers	% Change	LTP (₹)		Top Losers	% Change	LTP (₹)
Sona BLW Precision	+6.80%	486.00		Newgen Software	–6.03%	1,025.60
Thermax	+6.59%	3,885.90		Jaiprakash Power	–4.29%	22.73
AWL Agri Business	+6.08%	278.30		Network18	–3.74%	60.78
Alok Industries	+6.01%	22.04		Bharat Dynamics	–3.28%	1,742.90
Hitachi Energy	+5.01%	19,490.00		Swan Energy	–2.85%	507.05

Why Did the Market Fall Today?

Several factors contributed to the market’s slide on 17 July 2025:

🔸 1. Weakness in Heavyweights

IT and banking stocks—two of the largest contributors to index performance—faced selling pressure. Names like Infosys, TCS, and HDFC Bank dragged the benchmarks down.

🔸 2. Mixed Global Sentiment

Asian markets were muted as investors awaited US Federal Reserve commentary. Uncertainty over global inflation trends and interest rate direction kept sentiment cautious.

🔸 3. Profit Booking in Large Caps

After a strong run in the past week, traders booked profits in large-cap names ahead of upcoming earnings and macro data releases.

🔸 4. Midcap Rotation Continues

Interestingly, while large caps fell, funds seemed to rotate into midcaps and smallcaps, as seen in gains posted by stocks like Sona BLW and Thermax.

Conclusion: Choppy But Stock-Specific Opportunities Emerging

To sum up, the Stock Market 17 July session reflected a tug of war between profit booking in frontline sectors and stock-specific buying in broader markets.

Going forward, investors should watch earnings releases closely, especially from banks and IT companies. Global central bank commentary and institutional flows will also play a key role in short-term direction.

Despite the day’s fall, select sectors like auto components, capital goods, and energy continue to offer stock-picking opportunities for discerning investors.

Related Articles

Mutual Fund Inflows Surge in June: Smart Investors Shift Focus to These Stocks

Is Your Broker Safe? How the Jane Street vs SEBI Scandal Shook Indian Markets

Microcap Mutual Fund: The Hidden Gem of High-Growth Investing