An analysis of the Indian share market for the full calendar year 2025 is not yet possible, as the year has not concluded. However, based on the performance of the market through late August 2025 and expert forecasts, we can provide a detailed analysis of the key trends, drivers, and outlook for the remainder of the year.
Indian Share Market Performance (January - August 2025)
The Indian share market has shown remarkable resilience in 2025, with benchmark indices holding their ground despite significant volatility and sustained outflows from foreign investors.
Benchmark Indices: The BSE Sensex has gained approximately 4.5% year-to-date, while the Nifty 50 has also recorded positive, albeit modest, returns.
Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) Outflows: A defining characteristic of the market this year has been a staggering withdrawal of funds by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs). As of late August, FIIs have sold a net total of over $13.23 billion in Indian equities. This trend has been consistent, with major sell-offs in the IT, FMCG, and Power sectors.
Domestic Institutional Investor (DII) Support: The market's resilience can be attributed to robust and consistent buying by Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs). This strong domestic participation has effectively cushioned the impact of the FII sell-off, preventing a major market downturn.
Key Market Drivers and Influences
Several interconnected factors have shaped the Indian share market's performance in 2025:
Global Macroeconomic Factors: The Indian market is increasingly sensitive to global events.
Geopolitical Tensions: Ongoing geopolitical conflicts and trade wars, particularly the recent US imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian goods, have rattled investor sentiment and caused market dips.
U.S. Federal Reserve Policy: Expectations of a potential U.S. Fed rate cut in late 2025 have provided periods of optimism. Conversely, a strong U.S. dollar and high U.S. bond yields have made American assets more attractive, contributing to FII outflows from emerging markets like India.
Domestic Economic and Policy Levers:
Economic Growth: India's GDP growth is projected to be around 6.4% for the fiscal year 2025, which, while slower than previous years, still makes it one of the fastest-growing major economies globally.
Government Policy: Proposed GST rationalization and a shift in government policy to prioritize consumption and savings have been seen as positive steps.
Corporate Earnings: Corporate earnings have been mixed. While some sectors like cement, energy, and metals have shown modest profit growth, others, including banking and IT, have faced challenges, raising concerns about stretched valuations.
Inflation and RBI Policy: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is focused on managing inflation, with expectations of a potential rate cut in late 2025 to support economic recovery.
Sectoral Performance and Trends
Market performance in 2025 has been highly selective, with clear winners and losers:
Outperforming Sectors:
Telecommunication: This sector has attracted consistent FII inflows throughout 2025.
Services: Buoyed by domestic demand, this sector has also seen steady inflows.
Domestic-focused sectors: Sectors less reliant on exports and more on domestic consumption, such as consumer durables and certain manufacturing, have shown relative stability.
Underperforming Sectors:
Information Technology (IT): The IT sector has been the hardest hit by the FII sell-off, with the BSE IT index declining sharply.
Financials: Despite a rollercoaster year, the financial services sector, a traditional FII favorite, has seen net outflows.
Export-oriented sectors: These sectors have been under pressure due to global trade slowdowns and new tariff policies.
Outlook for the Remainder of 2025
Experts maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook for the Indian share market for the rest of the year.
Continued Domestic Strength: The market is expected to continue to be supported by strong domestic flows, which are helping to absorb foreign selling pressure.
Volatile but Resilient: Given the persistent global uncertainties, market volatility is expected to continue. However, India's strong domestic fundamentals and robust economy are likely to prevent a major, prolonged correction.
Long-Term Prospects: Analysts remain confident in India's long-term structural growth story. Key factors underpinning this positive outlook include favorable demographics, increasing consumer spending, and the government's focus on infrastructure and economic reforms.