Markets Trade Mixed; Nifty 50 Holds Above 26,000 as Bank Stocks Lend Support

Indian equity markets traded in a narrow and mixed range during mid-session on Monday, with frontline indices consolidating near record levels. The Nifty 50 managed to stay above the 26,000 mark, supported by mild strength in banking stocks, even as broader markets witnessed stock-specific volatility and profit booking in select names.

Also Read: Markets Trade Lower; Nifty 50 Slips Below 26,000 as Select Midcaps Rally

Benchmark Indices Snapshot

As of 12:44 PM IST, the Nifty 50 was trading at 26,011.55, down 35.40 points (-0.14%). The index opened at 25,930.05, touched an intraday high of 26,029.95, and a low of 25,904.75, indicating cautious participation and range-bound trade.

Other key indices showed a mixed trend:

• Nifty Next 50: 68,473.35 (↓ 0.05%)

• Nifty Financial Services: 27,600.60 (↓ 0.26%)

• Nifty Bank: 59,447.80 (↑ 0.10%)

The modest uptick in banking stocks helped cushion broader market weakness, keeping headline indices relatively stable.

Top Gainers: Midcaps and Momentum Plays Shine

Buying interest remained strong in select midcap and small-cap stocks, with several counters posting sharp gains:

• TV Vision surged 19.95% to ₹9.32, extending its strong momentum.

• Maha Rashtra Apex (MAHAPEXLTD) jumped 17.85% to ₹112.24, backed by healthy volumes.

• VIP Clothing (VIPULLTD) gained 17.38% to ₹12.02, attracting active trader interest.

• Tainwala Chemical (TAINWALCHM) rose 15.76% to ₹185.12.

• Agritech advanced 14.65% to ₹148.50, reflecting sector-specific optimism.

The rally in these stocks highlighted continued appetite for high-momentum and turnaround plays despite broader market consolidation.

Top Losers: Sharp Selling in Select Stocks

On the downside, a few stocks witnessed notable selling pressure:

• Patanjali Engineering RE (PATELEG-RE) remained the biggest laggard, plunging 39.73% to ₹1.35, with heavy volumes.

• EMBDL declined 6.34% to ₹68.00, despite strong traded value.

• HCC-REI slipped 6.24% to ₹4.36, seeing substantial volume activity.

• Welspun Investments (WELINV) fell 5.93% to ₹1,348.70.

• Bluestone dropped 5.54% to ₹498.25, indicating profit booking at higher levels.

The losses appeared stock-specific, driven by valuation concerns, technical correction and profit taking.

Market Outlook

Market participants remain cautious as indices hover near lifetime highs. While banking stocks provided marginal support, broader participation stayed selective, with traders focusing on volume-driven opportunities rather than taking aggressive index-level positions.

Experts expect markets to remain range-bound in the near term, with direction likely to emerge from global cues, interest-rate expectations and upcoming macroeconomic data.

Conclusion

The mid-session trade reflected a consolidating market, where benchmark indices held firm while individual stocks delivered sharp moves on both sides. As valuations remain elevated, investors are expected to stay selective, balancing risk while tracking sectoral trends and stock-specific triggers.