Indian equities started the week on a cautious note on Monday, December 15, 2025, with benchmark indices ending lower after a volatile session that saw early losses pare back intraday. Persistent foreign portfolio outflows, lingering uncertainty around a potential U.S.–India trade deal, and fresh pressure on the rupee kept risk appetite in check across Dalal Street.
By the close, the Nifty 50 fell 0.51% to 25,913.45, while the BSE Sensex slipped 0.46% to 84,875.85. The weakness was broad-based, with all 16 major sectoral indices in the red and mid- and small-caps also lower.
Sensex and Nifty performance: A weak open, a steadier middle, and a soft close
Markets opened in the red amid soft global cues, with several live trackers flagging early downside pressure around the 26,000 zone on Nifty.
As the session progressed, the benchmarks recovered from the day’s lows, with live market coverage noting that the indices erased a portion of initial losses amid stock-specific moves and mixed sectoral action.
However, the rebound lacked follow-through into the close as the same macro overhangs—foreign selling and currency stress—reasserted themselves. The day ultimately ended with modest but meaningful declines, reinforcing the market’s current “buy-the-dip, sell-the-rise” tone near recent highs. Reuters
What drove the Indian stock market lower today?
1) Foreign selling and “risk-off” positioning stayed in focus
A key drag remained continued foreign investor outflows, with Reuters reporting that foreign investors have been offloading Indian equities and that December has already seen significant net outflows. Financial stocks—typically among the most foreign-owned pockets—also weighed on broader sentiment.
2) U.S.–India trade deal uncertainty added a fresh macro cloud
Investors also tracked headlines around U.S.–India trade negotiations, with uncertainty on timing and the broader tariff backdrop contributing to caution. Reuters noted that a potential agreement is not expected before March, keeping event risk elevated for export-linked and globally sensitive names.
3) Rupee at record lows amplified the pressure
The Indian rupee hit fresh record lows, a critical factor because currency weakness can tighten domestic financial conditions and influence foreign flows. Reuters reported the rupee sliding to a new all-time low of 90.74 per U.S. dollar, even as the central bank’s actions helped curb sharper moves.
That currency stress matters for equities in two ways:
- It can reduce overseas investor confidence (especially when combined with outflows already underway).
- It can shift sector leadership, often supporting exporters on relative terms while raising cost pressures for import-heavy businesses.
Reuters also pointed to a broader narrative: the rupee’s weakness has persisted despite a softer dollar index in parts of December, highlighting domestic flow pressures.
Market breadth and sector trends: Realty cools, defensives mixed
While Reuters characterized the session as sectorally negative overall, intraday reports showed pockets of rotation and profit booking after the previous rebound.
One clear theme mid-session was profit taking in realty, with Business Standard noting the Nifty Realty index slipping after two sessions of gains, and several large real estate names trading lower in the late morning window.
Key stocks in the spotlight: Winners, losers, and headline-driven moves
Big movers from today’s trade
- ONGC fell about 3% after an analyst downgrade and concerns around production issues and weak oil prices, per Reuters.
- KEC International rose around 3.5%, supported by fresh order momentum, also highlighted by Reuters.
Intraday market feeds also tracked strength in select consumer and industrial names while autos and oil & gas names appeared among early laggards, reflecting the session’s mixed tape and stock-specific positioning.
“Stocks to watch” list: Corporate updates that mattered today
Several companies were on traders’ radar on December 15 due to deal wins, regulatory updates, inspections, and corporate actions:
- Wipro: Announced expanded partnerships involving Google Cloud and a strategic partnership with Microsoft aimed at enterprise transformation initiatives.
- Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories / SMS Pharmaceuticals / Aurobindo Pharma: Updates tied to U.S. FDA inspections and Form 483 observations at facilities were closely watched given their potential implications for approvals, compliance timelines, and sentiment in pharma.
- ESAF Small Finance Bank: Board-approved proposal to sell certain NPAs and written-off loans to an ARC, with the process framework outlined.
- NLC India: Received a letter of acceptance related to a 110 MW (AC) solar PV project in Uttar Pradesh under captive mode; also noted a JV agreement involving green energy initiatives.
- Ashoka Buildcon: Reported a project order worth ₹1,041.44 crore (via a JV) linked to flyover construction work.
- KEC International: Disclosed new orders worth ₹1,150 crore, including a large transmission & distribution order and civil works.
- One 97 Communications (Paytm): Completed an additional investment of ₹2,250 crore in its subsidiary Paytm Payments Services via a rights issue.
These kinds of company-specific triggers helped keep the session active even as the index-level move remained restrained.
Macro data today: WPI inflation moderates the deflation narrative
A notable domestic data point on December 15 was India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI) print for November.
Reuters reported that wholesale prices fell 0.32% year-on-year in November, moderating from the sharper decline in October and coming in above economists’ expectations in a Reuters poll. The report highlighted that food prices fell at a slower pace than the prior month, while manufactured products were up year-on-year.
For markets, a less-negative WPI can be interpreted in two competing ways:
- It may suggest easing deflationary pressure, which can be supportive for corporate pricing power in some sectors.
- But it can also reduce the urgency of aggressive easing expectations (depending on how CPI and growth data evolve next).
Investors are now likely to weigh WPI alongside upcoming activity and inflation indicators as they refine the near-term rate and earnings narrative.
Currency and rates check: Rupee weakness remains the macro headline
Beyond equities, the rupee’s slide has become a daily macro talking point.
Reuters reported:
- The rupee’s latest record low near 90.74 per dollar, with intervention helping limit volatility.
- A separate Reuters outlook piece noted expectations for the rupee to remain under pressure into year-end amid subdued inflows, with analysts cited looking at a near-term band roughly between 89.80 and 90.80.
On the rates side, Reuters also noted the 10-year benchmark yield around the 6.59% area, and flagged that RBI bond purchases and foreign investor activity remain important swing factors for domestic liquidity and risk sentiment.
IPO and primary market buzz: ICICI Prudential AMC IPO and listings in focus
Primary market action added another layer of activity on the day:
- ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company IPO: Business Standard reported that as of late morning on Dec 15, the IPO had seen demand of about 1.12x the shares on offer (based on exchange data), with the issue window running from Dec 12 to Dec 16 and a price band cited in the report.
- Listings and corporate actions: Moneycontrol’s “Stocks to Watch” roundup flagged mainboard listing references (including Wakefit Innovations and Corona Remedies), SME listings, and other corporate action markers such as ex-bonus and F&O ban updates (notably Bandhan Bank mentioned in the context of F&O restrictions). Moneycontrol+1
Nifty and Sensex outlook: Key levels traders are tracking after Dec 15
With Nifty hovering around a pivotal zone, multiple desks and publications highlighted similar technical “make-or-break” areas.
Nifty 50: Resistance near 26,050–26,300; support in the 25,850–25,950 zone
- The Economic Times reported analyst commentary indicating that a break above ~26,300 could be pivotal for the next leg higher, with upside targets discussed in the 26,350–26,500 area if a decisive breakout occurs.
- Financial Express cited technical commentary that 26,050 was an important resistance zone, with a potential pullback risk toward ~25,850 if profit booking deepens; it also referenced options data indicating support around ~25,950.
- NDTV Profit highlighted a resistance band extending into the 26,200–26,500 range and framed the near-term setup around whether bulls can reclaim and hold above these levels.
Sensex: Watch the 85,000 region
LiveMint’s pre-market technical roundup framed 85,000 as a key pivot zone, alongside support bands below and resistance areas above—useful reference points as the market digests macro and flow cues.
Bank Nifty: Range signals, with 60,000 still a psychological marker
LiveMint also carried Bank Nifty commentary focused on a buy-near-support, sell-near-resistance approach and highlighted hurdles near the upper band (including the psychologically important 60,000 region) while identifying a demand zone below.
What to watch next: The triggers that could move Dalal Street this week
Heading deeper into the week of December 15, traders and investors are likely to keep a tight watch on:
- FII flow trend: whether overseas selling cools or accelerates, especially if the rupee remains near record lows.
- U.S.–India trade headlines: any clarity on timelines, tariff pathways, or negotiation milestones could shift sentiment quickly.
- Global central bank decisions and U.S. data: Reuters flagged a packed global macro calendar, with risk sentiment sensitive to policy signals and major U.S. releases (and disruptions such as a potential U.S. government shutdown affecting data timing).
- Domestic macro prints: after WPI, the market will weigh upcoming activity and inflation signals for implications on growth expectations and RBI policy calculus.
- IPO flow and listing performance: subscription trends and debut moves can influence broader risk appetite in the secondary market, especially in momentum segments.
