Sensex, Nifty Slip as IT, Metal, and Oil & Gas Stocks Weigh; Focus Shifts to RIL AGM

August 29, 2025 – Benchmark indices closed weaker on Friday as selling in IT, auto, and metal stocks dragged the markets lower. Sensex closed at 79,809, down 270 points or 0.34 percent. The Nifty settled at 24,426, down 74 points or 0.30 percent.

Sectoral and Broader Market Snapshot

FMCG (+0.95 percent), media (+0.35 percent), energy (-0.13 percent), and consumer durables (+0.15 percent) ended higher.

Autos (-0.88 percent), IT (-0.87 percent), and metals (-0.60 percent) stayed weak, while realty was the biggest loser, slipping 1.33 percent.

In the broader market, the Midcap 100 fell 0.57 percent and the Smallcap 100 eased 0.39 percent. The Bank Nifty slipped 0.31 percent, dragged by PSU banks, while private banks dipped 0.061 percent.

Top Gainers and Losers

Nifty Gainers

Among the Nifty gainers, ITC rose 2.15%, followed by BEL up 1.36%, Shriram Finance gaining 1.29%, L&T advancing 1.12%, and Trent adding 1.10%.

Nifty Losers

M&M slipped 3.07%, while Reliance fell 2.06%, Infosys declined 2.04%, Apollo Hospitals was down 1.64%, and Adani Enterprises eased 1.51%.

RIL AGM Highlights

Due to the AGM, market attention shifted towards Reliance Industries, with investors closely tracking its announcements and future roadmap.

• Jio IPO in 2026: With regulatory approvals, Jio is expected to be listed by the first half of 2026. Mukesh Ambani confirmed this in the AGM.
• RIYA Voice Assistant & AI Innovations: Jio launched RIYA. RIYA is an AI-powered voice assistant and showcases Voice Print. This tool enables lip-synced, multi-language sports and film viewing.
• Reliance Intelligence Subsidiary: A new arm will build green energy-powered data centres and deliver AI services at a national scale, with global partnerships including Google and Meta.
• AI as Growth Engine: Ambani described AI as the “new Kamdhenu” and positioned it alongside Clean Energy and Genomics as defining forces for the future. Reliance is investing in AI-powered humanoid robotics to transform industries.
• Financial Milestones: Reliance crossed $125 billion in annual revenue in FY25. It recorded ₹1.83 lakh crore EBITDA and ₹81,309 crore net profit, while contributing ₹2.1 lakh crore to the exchequer.
• Retail Ambitions: Isha Ambani set a target of 20%+ CAGR for Reliance Retail. The FY25 revenue is at ₹3.3 lakh crore, and the customer base is 349 million. Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL) is set to hit ₹1 lakh crore revenue in five years. The aim is to leverage brands like Campa and Independence, and expand exports to 25 countries.

Policy Watch and Stock Movers

Textile and footwear counters gained on expectations of GST rate rationalisation at the upcoming council meeting. On the other hand, Bharat Forge fell nearly 2 percent as concerns grew over its exposure to higher U.S. tariffs.

Investor Activity – FII/DII Flows

On August 28, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs/FPIs) were net sellers, pulling out ₹3,856.51 crore (Buy: ₹17,742.69 crore; Sell: ₹21,599.20 crore). Meanwhile, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) extended strong buying, pumping in ₹6,920.34 crore (Buy: ₹17,391.44 crore; Sell: ₹10,471.10 crore).

Key Takeaways for Investors

• Sensex and Nifty ended lower with autos, IT, and metals dragging.
• India VIX fell to 11.83, suggesting lower volatility.
• FMCG, media, and energy supported, while realty and autos lagged.
• FIIs booked profits, but DIIs provided strong buying support.
• Reliance AGM remains the key market trigger in the near term.

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