17 out of 20 Healthcare Stocks Decline; Nifty Healthcare Index Down by 1.21%
By Shishta Dutta | Published at: Jun 17, 2025 02:01 PM IST
Mumbai, June 17—The Nifty Healthcare Index tumbled 181 points or 1.21% to 14,221 by 11:31 AM, as the market witnessed a broad-based decline in pharma stocks, particularly those with US exposure. The sector followed a general market weakness, as 17 out of 20 constituents traded in red, and only three advanced.
Weaker broader market sentiments, US pharmaceutical pricing concerns, and profit booking in midcap pharma after the recent rally contributed to the decline. However, Biocon (up by 1.2% at 12:25 PM) and Fortis (up by 0.10 % during the early trading hours) are two major healthcare stocks that performed well, largely due to pipeline/news-led strength.
Top Movers
Despite the sector-wide pressure, Biocon Ltd rose 1.25% to ₹361.70, supported by investor optimism around its ₹4,500 crore QIP offering. Fortis Healthcare inched up 0.10% at ₹765.65, and Alkem Laboratories was flat with a marginal uptick of 0.06%. However, by 12:45 PM, all three stocks, after rallying a bit during early trading hours, were reeling in the red.
Conversely, Sun Pharma, Lupin, and Aurobindo Pharma were among the biggest drags:
| Stock | Last Price (₹) | Change (₹) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biocon | 361.70 | +4.45 | +1.25% |
| Fortis | 765.65 | +0.80 | +0.10% |
| Alkem | 4871.00 | +3.00 | +0.06% |
| Sun Pharma | 1651.60 | -33.70 | -2.00% |
| Lupin | 1960.30 | -50.60 | -2.52% |
| Aurobindo | 1113.50 | -31.90 | -2.79% |
| Granules | 505.00 | -10.65 | -2.07% |
Sector Overview
The decline reflects broad-based profit booking in the pharma pack, especially after recent outperformance. The index remains 5.8% shy of its 52-week high, signaling that the downside could be part of short-term consolidation.
Meanwhile, Fortis, Max Healthcare, and Apollo Hospitals traded near their 52-week highs, showing resilience compared to pharma peers like Dr. Reddy’s, Cipla, and Divi’s, which underperformed.
Market Sentiment
Market breadth across the healthcare sector was negative, driven by global cues and weak momentum in frontline pharma names. Defensive buying was limited despite recent volatility in broader markets.
Outlook
Analysts expect consolidation in healthcare stocks soon, with select hospital chains potentially outperforming amid strong demand and pricing power. Biocon’s capital raise may attract institutional flows, offering near-term support.
About the Index
The Nifty Healthcare Index tracks 20 leading listed companies from pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, hospitals, and healthcare services. It is widely used as a benchmark for the sector’s performance on the National Stock Exchange of India.
Disclaimer: At HDFC SKY, we take utmost care and due diligence in curating and presenting news and market-related content. However, inadvertent errors or omissions may occasionally occur.
If you have any concerns, questions, or wish to point out any discrepancies in our content, please feel free to write to us at content@hdfcsec.com.
Please note that the information shared is intended solely for informational purposes and does not make any investment recommendations
