Indian stock market benchmarks turned choppy on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, giving up early gains as investors weighed a sharp swing in the rupee, persistent foreign portfolio outflows, and fresh uncertainty around the US interest-rate path. By midday, market breadth stayed weak even as select pockets—especially PSU banks—showed resilience.
At around 12:03 pm IST, the BSE Sensex was down 127.69 points (−0.15%) at 84,552.17, while the NSE Nifty 50 slipped 37.80 points (−0.15%) to 25,822.30. The advance-decline ratio reflected a risk-off tone: about 1,350 stocks advanced, 2,197 declined, and 178 were unchanged. 1
Sensex and Nifty 50 today: From a cautious green open to a flat-to-negative midday
The session began on a steadier note, tracking mixed global cues. Early trade saw Nifty and Sensex rise about 0.1% as Asian markets stayed subdued after mixed US jobs data complicated the outlook on the Federal Reserve’s next moves. 2
However, as the morning progressed, the benchmarks slipped closer to the day’s lows. Market trackers highlighted that banking heavyweights and rate-sensitive shares were among key drags as traders reacted to currency moves and continued foreign selling pressure. 3
Rupee vs dollar: RBI intervention cools panic, but the currency remains the market’s biggest cue
A defining theme for Indian markets today has been the rupee’s extreme volatility.
Reuters reported that the Reserve Bank of India stepped in “aggressively” after the rupee hit record lows for multiple sessions. The rupee strengthened sharply in early trade—up about 0.7% to around 90.25 per dollar after opening near 91.07—with state-run banks seen offering dollars, likely on behalf of the RBI. 4
Behind the rupee pressure is a combination of portfolio outflows and a broader macro narrative tied to trade and tariffs. Reuters analysis pointed to India’s currency sliding around 6% in 2025, touching a record low around 91.075 per dollar, amid a trade-related overhang and capital outflows—factors that continue to shape investor risk appetite for Indian assets. 5
Why the rupee matters so much for equities right now
For equities, a weakening currency can be a two-sided story:
- It may support exporters’ rupee earnings in certain sectors.
- But it can also raise imported inflation risks, hurt companies with dollar costs, and amplify foreign investors’ return concerns (since FII performance is often measured in dollars).
That’s why even a sharp RBI-led rebound in the rupee hasn’t automatically translated into a broad “risk-on” rally today—investors are looking for stability, not just a one-day bounce.
Sector check: PSU banks outperform while broader market remains under pressure
One of the clearest internal signals on December 17 is that leadership is narrow. According to live market updates, the Nifty PSU Bank index rose about 1%, outperforming in an otherwise subdued session, while the media index fell nearly 1%. Midcaps and smallcaps also stayed softer, indicating investors were not aggressively rotating into broader risk. 6
Market screens showed Shriram Finance, SBI, Eicher Motors, Hindalco and Tata Consumer Products among notable gainers, while Max Healthcare, SBI Life, HDFC Life, ICICI Bank and Apollo Hospitals featured among laggards around midday. 6
Stocks in focus today: Meesho surges, IOB drops on OFS, IPO listings grab attention
Wednesday’s market was also driven by several headline-specific moves:
Meesho shares hit upper circuit after UBS “Buy”
Newly listed Meesho drew major attention after UBS initiated coverage with a “Buy” call. Economic Times reported the stock was locked at a 20% upper circuit near ₹216.35, nearly doubling from its IPO price of ₹111, pushing its market capitalisation close to ₹98,000 crore. 7
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) slides as government OFS opens
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) was weak after the government announced an Offer for Sale (OFS) of up to 3% stake with a floor price of ₹34 per share. Reports noted the stock fell as the OFS opened at a discount to prevailing market prices. 8
IPO listings: Nephrocare debuts at a premium; Park Medi World lists at a discount, then rebounds
IPO action was another key theme on December 17:
- Nephrocare Health Services listed at ₹490 on NSE and ₹491.70 on BSE, a ~6.5%–6.9% premium to its ₹460 issue price. 9
- Park Medi World listed weaker: about ₹155.60 on BSE (−3.95%) and ₹158.80 on NSE (−1.98%) versus its ₹162 IPO price. Later, it rebounded intraday, with reports noting a move over 6% higher from the listing level. 10
Global cues: US data ambiguity, oil moves, and Asia’s mixed tone feed volatility
Global risk sentiment remained cautious. Traders pointed to mixed US signals—especially around jobs and growth—which have left the Fed’s path less predictable, limiting conviction in equities across regions. 2
Business Today’s pre-market note flagged:
- GIFT Nifty pointing to a muted-to-soft start,
- a still-important backdrop of persistent FII outflows and rupee depreciation, and
- commodity moves, with Brent around $59 and WTI around $56 in early trade after recent volatility. 11
FII and DII flows: The tug-of-war that is defining December trade
Foreign flows continue to sit at the heart of day-to-day market swings. Pre-market updates cited FPIs as net sellers of about ₹2,381.92 crore on Tuesday (Dec 16), while DIIs were net buyers of about ₹1,077.48 crore—a pattern that has repeatedly cushioned declines even as foreign selling persists. 11
For investors, this matters because strong domestic flows can slow a correction, but a sustained FII reversal is often what fuels the next leg higher—especially in heavyweight financials and index bellwethers.
Market outlook and forecasts: Key Nifty levels, Bank Nifty zone, and what analysts are watching next
Nifty 50 technical levels to track
Analyst commentary on December 17 leaned cautious:
- Livemint’s trade setup noted Nifty’s short-term trend turning “mildly bearish” after slipping below the 20-day EMA near 25,950, which is now seen as immediate resistance, while the 25,700–25,800 zone is viewed as a key support band. 12
- A separate outlook highlighted resistance around 26,000–26,050 and support around 25,700–25,800, framing the market in a consolidation band unless currency pressure intensifies. 13
Moneycontrol’s live commentary also quoted an analyst view that the index could drift toward 25,700 if weakness persists, while the 25,950–26,000 zone could cap rebounds in the near term. 6
Bank Nifty outlook
For Bank Nifty, outlook notes suggested consolidation, with support cited around 58,200–58,600 and upside triggers above 59,500, reflecting the sector’s sensitivity to liquidity and rupee-driven sentiment. 13
The “bigger picture” call: A 2026 rebound thesis, but with conditions
A key strategic perspective doing the rounds today: if crude stays soft, the rupee stabilises, and the India–US trade narrative improves, foreign investors may return in 2026. Economic Times live updates quoted Geojit’s chief investment strategist suggesting that while FII selling is pressuring prices now, a trade deal and a potential rupee rebound could help set up a 2026 rally. 14
RBI policy signal adds a new layer to the market narrative
Adding to today’s macro conversation, Reuters reported (citing a Financial Times interview) that RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra signalled interest rates may stay low for a “long period”, and said potential trade agreements could lift GDP growth by roughly 0.5 percentage points. The report also pointed to recent RBI actions including a repo rate cut earlier in December and liquidity measures aimed at supporting growth and financial conditions. 15
For equities, this tends to be supportive over time (lower rates can help valuations and borrowing), but in the near term, traders are still laser-focused on the currency channel—especially if low rates and global uncertainty keep the rupee under pressure.
What to watch next: Thursday’s triggers for the Indian stock market
With markets still swinging on macro cues, here are the most immediate triggers investors are watching after today’s trade:
- Rupee stability after RBI’s intervention—whether the bounce holds beyond the opening hours’ relief rally. 4
- US inflation data and Fed expectations, after mixed signals from US jobs data kept the rate outlook cloudy. 2
- Foreign flows vs domestic support, as the FII sell/DII buy pattern continues to dictate index direction. 11
- IPO/listing and OFS follow-through, with Meesho’s momentum, IOB’s OFS pricing impact, and post-listing action in Nephrocare and Park Medi World likely to stay in focus. 7
