The Indian capital markets showcased remarkable resilience on December 18, 2025. Despite facing early morning turbulence and volatile swings, the Nifty 50 managed to recover its losses to end the day almost flat. This steady closure was primarily anchored by a significant rally in asset management companies, a surge in aviation major Indigo, and strong support from IT giants. By the closing bell, the Nifty 50 stood at 25,815.55, showing only a marginal loss of 3.00 points or 0.01 percent.
The broader market reflected a similar sentiment. While the BSE SENSEX dipped slightly by 77.84 points (0.09 percent) to close at 84,481.81, the BSE Midcap index bucked the trend with modest gains of 0.05 percent.
Key Market Statistics at a Glance
The following table highlights the primary indices and currency performance as of the market close on December 18, 2025:
- Nifty 50: Closed at 25,815.55, marking a marginal decline of 0.01%.
- BSE SENSEX: Settled at 84,481.81, down by 0.09%.
- BSE Midcap: Ended the session with modest gains of 0.05%.
- Indian Rupee (USD/INR): Strengthened to 90.30, an appreciation of 0.13% from the previous close.
(Source: NSE, BSE)
Asset Management Companies Lead the Charge
The most significant highlight of the day was the explosive upward movement in the mutual fund sector. Following a landmark board meeting by SEBI on December 17, 2025, investors cheered the revised expense ratio structures. The new regulations appeared far less damaging to profitability than initially feared by the industry.
- HDFC AMC ended at ₹2,725.00 marking a rise of 7.23%.
- Other prominent asset management companies like Nippon Life India AMC advanced 5.46% to ₹912.00.
- The transition to a Base Expense Ratio and a clearer brokerage cap of 6 basis points provided the necessary relief for the industry.
- For passive funds, the new expense ratio is now capped at 0.90%, while active equity funds are set between 0.95% and 2.10%.
(Source: Moneycontrol, Screener)
Aviation and IT Giants Provide Support
Aviation and technology stocks acted as vital pillars for the index throughout the day. InterGlobe Aviation (Indigo) climbed to 2.72% after its CEO Pieter Elbers assured staff and investors that the worst phase of recent operational disruptions was now behind the airline.
The Nifty IT index rose by 1.25% as investors sought shelter in defensive stocks ahead of major quarterly results. Notable performers included:
- TCS: Gained 1.97% to end at ₹3,281.20, pushed by an expanded partnership with Aviva UK to manage 6.5 million policies.
- Tech Mahindra: Advanced 1.62%.
- Infosys: Climbed 1.57%.
(Source: Moneycontrol)
Star Outperformers and Corporate Developments
Beyond the major indices, several individual stocks made headlines with record breaking moves:
- Meesho: The e-commerce player jumped 8.16% to ₹234.00 and crossed the ₹1 trillion market capitalisation milestone. The stock hit an intraday high of ₹254.40 and has now surged 110% from its IPO price in just seven trading sessions.
- MCX: Multi Commodity Exchange of India rose 1.50% to ₹10,175.00 as the company fixed January 2, 2026 as the record date for its 1:5 stock split.
- HBL Engineering: Shares soared 7.23% to ₹817.00 after successfully delivering 75.40% of its Loco TCAS (Train Collision Avoidance System) units before the deadline.
- Antony Waste Handling Cell: Surged 19% following a massive ₹1,330 crore joint venture order.
- Hindustan Zinc: Surged by 2.20% to close at ₹591.05. The rally was fueled by Hindustan Zinc’s status as a primary beneficiary of record-high silver prices.
(Source: Economic Times,Livemint, Moneycontrol)
Brokerage Radar and Institutional Views
Top institutional analysts maintained a bullish outlook on several key players during the session:
- Vedanta: Citi maintained a “buy” rating with a target of ₹585, following NCLT approval for its demerger. The stock rose 1.63% to ₹579.30 by 3:28 PM.
- Tata Motors: BoFA Securities initiated a “buy” rating with a target of ₹475, citing a rebound in the truck cycle. The stock gained 3.75% to ₹401.20 by 3:11PM.
- Voltas: Upgraded to “buy” by BoFA with a target of ₹1,555, anticipating a strong summer in 2026.
(Source: Moneycontrol)
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