Bulls Charge Ahead, But Watch the Breadth...

Indian markets extended their rally for a third straight session yesterday, driven by supportive global cues, easing geopolitical worries, and expiry-led momentum. 

However, a tale of two markets unfolded beneath the surface — while benchmark indices soared, mid- and smallcaps lagged, hinting at selective participation. This is a BUY on DIPS market. Photo: iStock.


📈 Key Highlights – India:

  • Sensex jumped 1,000+ points to close at 82,755.51.
  • Nifty 50 rose 1.21% to settle just below 25,550.
  • India VIX fell further to 12.59 (–2.87%), suggesting low market anxiety.
  • Metals, financials, and energy led the surge; expiry flows amplified moves.
  • Top gainers: Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, Reliance, SAIL, Jindal Steel.
  • Stock-specific buzz:
    • Nestlé India rose on a 1:1 bonus issue. If you remember I had spoken about Nestle Ltd (Rs.2431.40), and HUL as a long term bets, in my Twitter (X) posts. 
    • Aurionpro, Vipul Organics, OM Infra surged on strong updates.

🧺 Mid & Smallcaps: Caution Creeps In:

Despite the frontline euphoria, broader markets showed fatigue:

  • Nifty Midcap 100: +0.45%
  • Nifty Smallcap 100: +0.30%.

🔍 Takeaway: The rally is increasingly top-heavy, driven by large-cap names. Narrowing breadth could pose risks if mid- and smallcaps fail to catch up in the next leg. However, today I am expecting a rally in mid, small and micro cap space.


🌍 Wall Street Wrap: Bulls Sniff Record Highs:

US markets closed sharply higher, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite within whiskers of all-time highs:

  • S&P 500: +0.8% to 6,041, just 3 points below its Feb record
  • Nasdaq Composite: +1% to 20,168, just 6 points shy of Dec peak
  • Dow Jones: +0.9% (+400 pts), still ~4% away from its own record

📰 Key Drivers:

  • Cooling tensions in the Middle East post Israel–Iran ceasefire
  • Strong US economic data: jobless claims, GDP, trade numbers
  • Fed officials signal a "wait-and-see" approach on rate cuts, but tone is softening
  • Mega-cap tech continued to lead:
    • NVIDIA hit a new record
    • Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft all advanced
    • Broadcom up 2%, Palantir hit a record
    • Micron dipped 1% despite solid earnings
    • Nike gained ~3% ahead of results

💵 Other Markets:

  • Bitcoin: Hovering near $107,800.
  • Crude Oil (WTI): Rose 0.4% to $65.20/barrel.
  • Gold: Flat at $3,345/oz.
  • US 10-yr yield: Eased to 4.24%.
  • Dollar Index: Slipped to 97.30, a 3-year low.

📅 YTD & Monthly Trends:

  • S&P 500 (June): +3.9% | YTD: +4.4%.
  • Nasdaq (June): +5.5% | YTD: +4.4%.
  • Dow (June): +2.6% | YTD: +2%.

📊 Technical View:

Nifty:

  • Closing at 25,550, the index has built a strong base.
  • Immediate resistance: 25,650–25,700.
  • Support levels: 25,400 and 25,250.
  • RSI and MACD still in bullish territory.

Bank Nifty:

  • Ended above 55,600, up 1.4%
  • Resistance: 55,900–56,100
  • Support: 55,200 and 54,800
  • Key drivers: HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak

🏦 Stock in Focus: Bank of Maharashtra Ltd (Rs.53.84) — PSU Gem in Making:

Here’s your clean, restructured version of the Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) report, aligned with data as of June 25, 2025. It eliminates forward-dated inconsistencies, trims redundancy, and organizes the analysis for clarity and practical insight:


🏦 Bank of Maharashtra — Snapshot as of June 25, 2025


📌 Fundamentals

  • Last Closing Price: ₹53.84 (as per latest available data; real-time verification recommended)
  • P/E Ratio: ~7.5× (attractive vs PSU banking sector average ~12–15×)
  • P/B Ratio: ~1.45×
  • Market Cap: ~₹41,500 Cr (based on ~7,080 Cr shares)
  • Dividend Yield: ~2.8% (stable payout history)
  • 52-Week Range: ₹42.00 – ₹70.80
  • Gross NPA: ~1.74%
  • Net NPA: ~0.18%

📊 Performance & Trends

  • 3-Month Return: +16%
  • 12-Month Return: –17% (significant correction from 52-week high)
  • Recent Movement: ~1% drop on June 24, indicating mild profit booking
  • Seasonality Check: June historically shows average negative returns (~–5.35%), suggesting potential for range-bound movement or pullback.

📈 Technical Outlook

  • 20-Day MA Crossover: Bearish signal observed; past patterns show ~4% downside risk post-crossover
  • Momentum Indicators:
    • Short-Term: Weak (MACD, RSI, Stochastics pointing lower)
    • Medium-Term: Bullish trend intact on weekly/monthly charts
  • Support Zone: ₹50–52
  • Resistance Zone: ₹60–65
  • Trend Bias: Cautiously bullish with a near-term pullback risk

🔍 Fundamental Highlights

Parameter View
Valuation Undervalued; low P/E and decent yield offer cushion and upside
Asset Quality One of the strongest among PSU banks with very low NPAs
Growth Outlook Solid credit growth and stable margins; NIM around 3.1–3.2%
Management & Cost Improving cost-to-income ratio (~43–45%), healthy CASA near 50%
Investor Appeal Strong PSU franchise with a track record of consistent improvement

🎯 Investment Strategy

  • Short-Term Traders:
    Accumulate on dips in the ₹52–54 range, with a target of ₹60–65.
    Stop-loss: ₹49.80

  • Long-Term Investors:
    Hold and accumulate gradually for long-term wealth creation based on strong fundamentals, PSU sector tailwinds, and low valuation risk.

  • Risks to Watch:
    Sector rotation out of PSU banks, global sentiment shifts, or macro volatility could affect short-term performance.


📌 Note: All figures are based on publicly available data as of June 25, 2025. Please verify latest metrics before taking any investment decision. This is not financial advice. 

Market commentary is for informational purposes only and not a recommendation. Please consult your investment advisor.

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