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Markets dip as trade tensions rise; Adani Ports gains, Reliance Power sinks

Markets paused after a two-day rally - global jitters, Adani buzz, and a Reliance shock shaped Monday’s trade.

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Sensex dropped 173.77 points (0.21%) to close at 82,327.05, while the Nifty50 declined 58 points (0.23%) to settle at 25,227.35.

The Nifty Midcap 100 index eked out a modest 0.11% gain, while the Smallcap 100 slipped 0.17%, showing resilience in select pockets despite global headwinds.

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Impact on the stock market

Sector-wise performance

  • Nifty IT (-0.78%) and FMCG (-0.9%) led the declines, reflecting concerns over export exposure and margin pressures.
  • On the other hand, Financial Services (+0.35%) provided some cushion, backed by gains in Axis Bank and Bajaj twins.
Sector/IndexPerformance
IT & BPM sector-0.78%
Healthcare sector0.03%
Oil & Gas sector-0.27%
Real estate sector0.02%
PSU Bank in India0.24%

Top gainers today

CompanyShare Price (in ₹)Change %
Adani Ports 1,439.102.11
Bajaj Auto 9,080.501.50
Bajaj Finance 1,036.751.26
Shriram Finance 672.151.07
Interglobe Avi 5,787.500.92

Top losers today

CompanyShare Price (in ₹)Change %
Tata Motors 660.75-2.68
Infosys 1,491.50-1.54
HUL 2,492.80-1.43
Wipro 245.33-1.36
Max Healthcare 1,143.30-1.13

Market aftermath: Impact on stocks

Adani Ports sails higher on bullish brokerage call

Adani Ports & SEZ (APSEZ) emerged as the top Nifty gainer, climbing 1.5% to ₹1,430.70, after UK-based brokerage Investec initiated coverage with a ‘Buy’ rating and a target price of ₹1,715, hinting at a 22% upside.

Investec’s optimism stems from the company’s 17-port network and growing foothold in international cargo handling. The brokerage expects EBITDA to grow 13% CAGR between FY25 and FY30, supported by the ramp-up at newly acquired ports like NQXT.

Investec also highlighted the company’s strong balance sheet, noting that net gearing dropped to 0.6x in FY25 and could become negligible by FY30. With regulatory clarity after SEBI’s clean chit to the Adani Group, investor sentiment has improved.

Adani Ports shares are now up over 17% in 2025, outperforming the Nifty 50’s ~6% gain so far this year.

Also read: Adani Group business update on performance

Vodafone Idea dips as Supreme Court defers AGR hearing again

Troubles continued for Vodafone Idea (VIL) as its stock fell 2% to ₹8.87, after the Supreme Court postponed hearing the company’s plea against the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) ₹5,606 crore adjusted gross revenue (AGR) demand for FY2016–17.

This marks the fourth deferment in VIL’s plea hearing. The government has hinted at a potential one-time settlement, possibly involving a waiver of penalties and interest, but no final decision has been made yet.

The delay rekindles uncertainty around the company’s financial stability. A resolution could offer relief, but for now, investors remain cautious as the telco continues to grapple with its ₹2 lakh crore AGR dispute.

You may also read: Vodafone Idea stock analysis

Reliance Power tumbles after CFO’s arrest

In another corporate shocker, Reliance Power shares tanked 5% to ₹46.17 after its CFO Ashok Kumar Pal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Pal resigned from his position immediately following his arrest, which is linked to an alleged fake bank guarantee worth ₹68 crore issued on behalf of Reliance NU BESS Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Power.

The ED alleged that the company submitted a forged guarantee from a non-existent Manila branch of FirstRand Bank, routed through a fraudulent entity, Biswal Tradelink. The company, however, maintains that it is a “victim of fraud” and had filed a complaint with Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing last year.

Reliance Power clarified that Anil Ambani has not been on the company’s board for over three years, distancing him from the ongoing probe. Still, the news rattled investors, pushing the stock closer to its 52-week low of ₹31.

Crude oil rebounds as Trump backtracks on tariff threat

In the commodities space, crude oil prices rebounded on Monday after President Trump backpedalled on his weekend threats to slap 100% tariffs on China.

  • December Brent futures rose 1.39% to $63.60/barrel
  • November WTI futures gained 1.43% to $59.74/barrel
  • On India’s MCX, October crude futures advanced 1.2% to ₹5,309/barrel

The recovery came after a sharp 4% drop on Friday, as markets feared the trade war escalation would dent global demand. Trump’s Monday post on Truth Social calmed traders, saying:

“Don’t worry about China, it will all be fine! President Xi doesn’t want a depression for his country, and neither do I.”

Commodities such as turmeric (+1.11%) and cardamom (+3.8%) also firmed up on the NCDEX, while jeera slipped 0.58% amid profit booking.

Conclusion

Monday’s market session was a mixed bag — global uncertainty set the tone, but select heavyweight stocks like Adani Ports managed to shine. With financials staying resilient and energy prices stabilising, investors appear to be reassessing risk amid geopolitical noise.

As earnings season unfolds and the US–China trade drama continues, traders are likely to stay cautious in the near term. Yet, the strong domestic fundamentals — robust credit growth, cooling inflation, and government spending — continue to keep India’s market narrative intact.

For now, investors are watching global cues, waiting to see if the tariff tantrum turns into turbulence or just another temporary tremor in the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.

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Neha Verma

Neha Verma is a finance professional with a passion for simplifying financial concepts. She specializes in personal finance and helps people understand the importance of effective money management. Neha’s approach focuses on practical strategies for budgeting, saving, and investing, with the goal of empowering readers to make informed financial decisions. Through her writing, she shares useful insights and tips that help people navigate the world of finance with confidence.

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