Nifty 50 Today: IT Stocks Lead the Charge Amid Mixed Global Cues

Nifty 50 closed higher on August 21, 2025, driven by strong gains in Infosys and TCS, while banks and Reliance dragged. Global markets remained mixed, with U.S. indices weak but Asian peers showing resilience. Here’s a detailed analysis of how Nifty traded today.

Nifty 50 Today: A Balanced Close with IT as the Star Performer

On August 21, 2025, the Indian equity markets ended with modest gains as the Nifty 50 closed at 25,050.55, up 69.90 points (+0.28%). The day\u2019s movement reflected a tug-of-war between strong advances in IT majors and selling pressure in banks, energy, and FMCG counters. Backed by robust rallies in Infosys and TCS, the index managed to stay positive even as Reliance, ICICI Bank, and L&T weighed on the broader sentiment.

Let’s break down today’s trade, sectoral moves, and what global and institutional flows indicate for the coming sessions.

Key Movers in Nifty 50

Infosys (INFY)
- Closing: ₹1496.20
- Change: +56.20 points (+3.90%)
- Remark: Infosys was the star performer of the day, leading the IT rally after reporting strong order inflows and upbeat commentary on global tech demand.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
- Closing: ₹3098.60
- Change: +82.40 points (+2.73%)
- Remark: TCS joined Infosys in driving IT momentum, benefiting from renewed global outsourcing deals.
Bharti Airtel
- Closing: ₹1928.40
- Change: +18.70 points (+0.98%)
- Remark: The telecom major posted healthy gains on the back of strong subscriber additions and expectations of better ARPU (average revenue per user).
HDFC Bank
- Closing: ₹1988.20
- Change: -2.90 points (-0.15%)
- Remark: The largest private lender traded weakly, reflecting broader selling in financials.
ICICI Bank
- Closing: ₹1430.60
- Change: -5.70 points (-0.40%)
- Remark: ICICI faced selling pressure as banking stocks remained muted.
Reliance Industries
- Closing: ₹1413.00
- Change: -7.10 points (-0.50%)
- Remark: The heavyweight dragged the index due to concerns over margin pressures.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
- Closing: ₹3592.30
- Change: -20.70 points (-0.57%)
- Remark: The infra giant slipped, indicating profit booking after recent rallies.
ITC
- Closing: ₹406.05
- Change: -3.05 points (-0.75%)
- Remark: The FMCG major was under pressure due to concerns of slower demand recovery.

Index Drivers: Why Nifty Stayed Positive

Winners: The IT pack led by Infosys (+3.90%) and TCS (+2.73%) accounted for most of Nifty’s gains. Bharti Airtel’s nearly 1% gain also supported the index.
Draggers: Reliance (-0.50%), L&T (-0.57%), ICICI Bank (-0.40%), ITC (-0.75%), and HDFC Bank (-0.15%) put pressure but were offset by IT strength.

In summary, the IT sector shielded the index from heavier losses in banks, FMCG, and energy, helping Nifty close in the green.

Global Market Cues

U.S. Markets (August 20, 2025 Closing)

Dow Jones: +16.04 points (+0.04%) – Held steady.
S&P 500: -15.59 points (-0.24%) – Mild weakness.
Nasdaq: -142.10 points (-0.67%) – Tech-led decline.
Russell 2000: -7.26 points (-0.32%) – Small caps under pressure.
Volatility Index (VIX): Rose to 15.69 (+0.77%).

Takeaway: U.S. equities ended mixed. While Dow was resilient, tech-heavy Nasdaq faced selling, increasing caution for global investors.

U.S. Futures (Morning of August 21, 2025)

Dow Futures: 44,926.0 (-0.03%) – Mildly weak.
S&P 500 Futures: 6,397.1 (+0.02%) – Flat.
Nasdaq Futures: 23,269.4 (+0.09%) – Tech showing mild recovery.
Russell Futures: 2,268.2 (-0.05%) – Small caps weak.
VIX Futures: 18.18 (-0.66%) – Volatility cooling.

Overall: Futures indicated a cautious but stable U.S. market, with tech recovering slightly.

Asia-Pacific Markets (Morning of August 21, 2025)

Nikkei 225 (Japan): 42,638.00 (-0.58%) – Weakness due to profit booking.
S&P/ASX 200 (Australia): 9,002.00 (+0.94%) – Strong regional performer.
Shanghai Composite (China): 3,779.52 (+0.35%) – Positive bias.
SZSE Component (China): 11,963.70 (+0.31%) – Steady gains.
China A50: 14,463.30 (+0.50%) – Continued buying interest.
Hang Seng (Hong Kong): 25,130.00 (-0.14%) – Slight weakness.
KOSPI (South Korea): 3,164.13 (+1.09%) – Strong rally, leading the region.

Overall: Asia showed mixed but positive sentiment, with Korea and Australia leading, while Japan and Hong Kong limited gains.

Institutional Flows (20th August 2025)

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs): Net Sellers of ₹1,100.09 crore.
Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs): Net Buyers of ₹1,806.34 crore.

This indicates FIIs booked profits, while DIIs provided strong support, cushioning the market.

Market Sentiment & Outlook

The Nifty 50’s resilience today was largely due to IT majors. With FIIs selling but DIIs stepping in, domestic liquidity ensured stability. The global backdrop remains mixed, with U.S. tech weakness capping gains but Asian markets showing optimism.

Key Takeaways for Traders and Investors:

IT stocks remain in focus – Positive momentum likely to continue if U.S. tech recovers.
Banking sector cautious – Needs fresh triggers for a sustainable uptrend.
Reliance & FMCG weakness – Could weigh if pressure extends.
Global cues matter – Nasdaq trend and Asian stability will drive sentiment.

Conclusion

The trading session of August 21, 2025, highlighted the growing importance of the IT sector in holding Nifty steady. While banks, Reliance, and FMCG names faced selling, IT giants like Infosys and TCS ensured a positive close. Global cues remain mixed, but with domestic institutional support strong, Nifty showed resilience.

Going forward, traders should keep an eye on IT momentum, institutional flows, and global tech cues to gauge Nifty’s direction. For now, the bias remains cautiously positive, with IT providing leadership while other heavyweights consolidate.

The Financial And Tech Literacy