Outlook: Weekly Market Review & Top Stocks that were in Focus for the week ended 20th Jun’25

The ongoing tensions in West Asia did rattled the market through the week but Friday was a very different day as we had great pull back and finally we have managed to actually cut a lot of losses for the last four sessions as well even as most Asian Markets failed to hold their ground.  In this edition we will get you all the updates for the week that transpired and the key factors that the market is going to look out for. 

It was a bit of a seesaw kind of market with bulls and bears in action with some days markets closing in the green while another day closing in the red territory. Though the index continued to remain rangebound within 300 points, the broader markets saw a sharp decline led by losses in mid-cap, small-cap stocks across sectors.

This decline was driven by rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, continued concerns over elevated inflation in the U.S., hawkish comments from the Fed Chair where he is expecting growth to moderate and inflation to rise, and a surge in crude oil prices to a 5-month high around $77/bbl. Adding to the pressure, the global markets across Asia and Europe too declined amid reports suggesting a potential U.S. military strike on Iran.

However, as we write, the geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran show signs of tensions easing after President Trump indicated that a decision on potential U.S. involvement in the conflict would be made within two weeks, reducing concerns over an immediate military response.

Despite the tensions and volatility seen during the week, the Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have been net buyers for 3 consecutive days. This indicates that the Indian Markets and economy looks resilient with growth in GDP, inflation cooling and positive macro economic indicators. We are also seeing stock specific action continuing at lower levels as well which is a positive sign.

If you remember the sensex dipped to 73k in March when US-China trade tariff war headlines was on peak and then we saw it climbing back to 82k which is a 12% move in less than 2 months. Now that’s a big rally to miss out on and one would have missed out on that entirely by reacting in panic and fear. There are always positive & negative triggers in the market and if we map the last 20 years every global worry in hindsight has been the best buying opportunity for investors. With this let me present to you our weekly market review.

How Did the Markets Fare Last Week?

On a weekly basis ended on Friday, the Indian benchmark indices ended in green. Sensex and Nifty were up 1.6% while Midcaps were down 0.4% during the week.

What Might Keep the Markets Busy Into the Next Week?

It’s the June series monthly expiry next week so ahead of that the option writers have taken position of 24900 call and the 24800 put which indicates that the option writers aren’t expecting Nifty to break the range that has been consistent around 24600-25050 pts.

The other important trigger to track for the next couple of days is going to be the United States role in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. This is important to track whether they go for the escalation side or de-escalation side.

On the data front, starting first with domestic cues, we have FX Reserves data, HSBC Composite & Manufacturing PMI and Bank Loan Growth while globally we have Fed Official Speech, S&P Global Manufacturing & Services PMI, GDP data, Continuing Jobless Claims among other updates.    

         Crude and FII Flows

Brent Crude Oil Prices declined to $77/bbl from a high of $79/bbl after President Trump signaled a decision on whether to strike Iran will be made within two weeks, easing fears about an imminent attack from the US. On other hand, FIIs turned Net Buyers for the week.

Sector in Focus

Auto, Consumption & Banks remained in focus during the week.

Stocks That Remained in Focus During The Week

Nestle:

• The Board Meeting is scheduled to consider a historic first-ever bonus share issue on 26th June, signaling growing shareholder confidence and balance sheet strength. This move could enhance liquidity and retail participation. Meanwhile, Nestle will be removed from the BSE Sensex on 23rd June as part of the index's rebalancing. It will be replaced by Trent gaining visibility after their inclusion in the Nifty 50, adding momentum to index-linked fund interest.

HDFC Bank:

• HDFC Bank's Non-banking arm unit has locked in dates for its much-anticipated Rs 12,500 crore IPO, which is scheduled to open from 25th June to 27th June. This marks one of the biggest NBFC IPOs in recent years and includes a Rs 2,500 crore fresh issue alongside a Rs 10,000 crore Offer for Sale by the parent bank. If successful, the IPO could provide fresh capital for expansion while enabling HDFC Bank to unlock value from its subsidiary.

Lemon Tree:

• The company has signed a License Agreement viz Lemon Tree Resort, Limbodagari, Madhya Pradesh featuring 60 well-appointed rooms. The property shall be managed by the company's wholly owned subsidiary Carnation Hotels. This opening will be in addition to already four existing and seven upcoming hotels in Madhya Pradesh.

CCL Products:

• The company has test launched traditional South Indian Snacks under the brand name ‘Malgudi’. The product category is Food - Snacks which shall cater to meet the requirements of the domestic market. The company has not shared any details yet in case of launching the product in the international market. 

Vodafone Idea:

• Vodafone Idea has announced a strategic partnership with AST SpaceMobile Inc. to bring direct-to-device satellite broadband connectivity to India, aiming to support the Digital India vision of universal mobile access. 

• AST SpaceMobile is building the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network designed to be accessible directly by standard mobile phones, serving both commercial and government needs. 

Abbott India:

• The company and MSD Pharmaceuticals have entered into a strategic distribution agreement aimed at broadening access to MSD’s oral anti-diabetes medications in India, including sitagliptin and its combination therapies. Under the terms of the partnership, Abbott will utilise its distribution infrastructure to promote MSD’s sitagliptin-based products — Januvia, Janumet, and Janumet XR.

DCX Systems:

• The company has received export purchase orders from its overseas and domestic customers for manufacturing and supply of cable and wire harness assemblies amounting to about Rs 28.59 crore on a cumulative basis. 

• Of this, Rs 10.83 crore is secured from Elbit Systems Ltd, Israel, Rs 7.89 crore from ELTA Systems Ltd, Israel, Rs 5.04 crore from Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd, Israel and Rs 4.83 crore from domestic customers.

Bharat Forge:

• Bharat Forge Ltd and French company Turgis Gaillard have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to offer AAROK UAV in alignment to the Indian Ministry of Defence. AAROK is a MALE-class UAV developed to offer the best available technology at the lowest acquisition and deployment cost. Flying at high altitude and for long periods, it performs longrange surveillance missions. Its electromagnetic sensors and radar enable it to monitor the enemy while remaining stand off from the threats.

Mastek:

• Mastek has been awarded a contract by NHS England to provide NHS board and Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) cybersecurity training in partnership with Templar Executives. This training is aimed at NHS Boards and executives to help enhance their understanding of the cyber landscape and build resilience across the healthcare system. 

Mphasis:

• MPHASIS announced a strategic partnership with Sixfold, the US and UK-based AI underwriting company redefining how insurers assess risk. As an implementation partner, Mphasis will integrate Sixfold’s AI platform to help insurers accelerate their underwriting process—speeding up submission intake and equipping underwriters with the contextual risk insights they need to make faster, more confident decisions.