Closing Bell | Markets end mixed, benchmarks slip on the week but snap losing streak on Friday

Indian equities wrapped up the week on a mixed note, with frontline indices ending largely in the red despite a strong rebound in Friday’s session that snapped a four-day losing streak.

For the week, the Nifty slipped 0.3% while the Sensex declined 0.4%, weighed down by losses across more than 30 Nifty constituents. Axis Bank, JSW Steel and Eternal emerged as the top laggards among large-caps. In contrast, the broader market showed resilience, with the midcap index managing to close in the green, helped by late-week buying interest.

#MarketAtClose | #AeroflexIndustries rises 9% after bd approves fund raise of up to ₹55 cr via pref issue, ₹98 cr capex

▶️BLS Intl Services gains 3% after Delhi High Court sets aside #MEA debarment

Here's more???? pic.twitter.com/FBdiccsdb1

— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) December 19, 2025

PSU banks were clear outperformers, with the sectoral index rising 1.5%, providing some support to market sentiment.

On Friday, however, the mood improved markedly. The market closed near the day’s high, supported by broad-based buying. The Sensex jumped 448 points to settle at 84,929, while the Nifty gained 151 points to end at 25,966, comfortably holding above the 25,950 mark. More than 40 Nifty stocks closed higher, reflecting improved breadth.

The Nifty Bank index rose 156 points to 59,069, while the midcap index outperformed with a sharp 718-point gain to 60,310. The advance-decline ratio on the NSE stood at a healthy 2:1, indicating wider participation in the rally.

Sectorally, pharma stocks closed higher after US President Donald Trump signed the Biosecure Act, with Laurus Labs gaining 3%. IT stocks ended with marginal gains after Accenture maintained its guidance.

Stock-specific action remained the key highlight. Shriram Finance

surged nearly 4% after Japan’s MUFG announced a $4.4 billion investment for a 20% stake. Piramal Finance climbed over 4% after announcing plans to sell a 14.72% stake in Shriram Life Insurance for ₹600 crore.

In the broader space, Lenskart rallied 14% after Macquarie initiated coverage with an outperform rating. NBCC gained 5% after bagging an order worth ₹179 crore from IIM Sambalpur, while Aeroflex Industries jumped 9% after its board approved a fund raise of up to ₹55 crore via preferential issue and ₹98 crore in capex.

Other notable movers included BLS International Services, up 3% after the Delhi High Court set aside the MEA debarment, and Ola Electric, which surged 10% after management said the promoter stake sale had concluded. Bandhan Bank gained over 3% following its exit from the F&O ban.

Among midcaps, M&M Financial, Ashok Leyland, Tata Elxsi and Bharti Hexacom led the gainers, while IOB, SAIL, Cummins, Aditya Birla Capital and Zee Entertainment were among the top losers.

Indian Rupee vs Dollar

#RupeeAtClose | #Rupee ends at 89.27/$ against Thursday’s close of 90.24/$ pic.twitter.com/sUlYRppbX8

— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) December 19, 2025

The rupee posted its biggest single-day gain against the dollar in over three years on Friday, as the Reserve Bank of India unexpectedly stepped in to sell dollars heavily in the last few minutes of trade, a report on news agency Informist said. The intervention was a repeat of the central bank's aggressive intervention on Wednesday.

Appreciating 1.1% against the dollar, the rupee settled at 89.2700 a dollar, its highest closing level since Nov. 25. On Thursday, it had settled at 90.2400.

The Indian currency appreciated 1.3% against the dollar this week.

With inputs from wires