31/10/25, Indian equity markets are likely to trade cautiously on Friday, 31 October 2025, with Nifty expected to consolidate between 25,700 and 26,100, showing sideways movement after Thursday's decline.

Sensex is also likely to remain under pressure around the 84,000-85,000 mark, as investors weigh profit booking and await fresh domestic and global cues.

Stock Market Outlook For 31 October 2025

Dalal Street on Thursday ended the session under pressure, with the Nifty 50 slipping below the 26,000 mark and the Sensex also witnessing notable losses amid cautious global sentiment. According to market analysts, the domestic indices were impacted by profit booking and mixed cues from global markets following the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, while signaling a potential pause in further easing for the rest of the year.

"Market reaction was muted, as the decision was fully priced in. The US Treasury yields ticked up slightly, and the US dollar strengthened modestly after Powell's cautious remarks. In India and other EMs, investors took comfort from the global easing backdrop but were mindful that the Fed is signaling a pause rather than a rapid series of further cuts," noted Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd.

The Nifty 50 closed at 25,877.85, down 176 points or 0.68%, while the Sensex fell 593 points or 0.70% to 84,404.46, coinciding with the monthly expiry of derivatives contracts. On the broader market front, midcap and smallcap indices saw relatively muted losses, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 falling 0.1% each.

Stocks in Focus Today: Sector-wise Performance Trends

Sector-wise, healthcare, financials and pharma were among the major laggards, with the Nifty Healthcare Index, financial services, and private banks each dropping around 0.7%. IT, FMCG, and auto stocks recorded marginal declines, while realty and energy were the only gainers, rising 0.13% and 0.04% respectively, reflecting a subdued overall market sentiment.

Nifty Prediction Today: What Market Experts Expect

Market experts expect the Nifty to continue its consolidation. Analysts at Bajaj Broking Research said, "The index formed a bearish candlestick pattern with a lower high and lower low signaling profit booking at higher levels near 26,100 levels. In the last six sessions, on expected lines, Nifty has been moving sideways within a range of 26,100-25,700, and this consolidation is likely to extend."

The brokerage noted that a breakout above 26,100 could push the Nifty towards its previous all-time high of 26,277 and then to 26,500, while strong support is seen around 25,700-25,500. The firm also emphasized that the ongoing consolidation is a healthy retracement after a sharp 1,500-point rally over the past four weeks.

Bank Nifty Prediction Today For October 31, 2025

Bank Nifty mirrored similar patterns, showing signs of profit booking after a short-term uptrend. "The index formed a small bear candle as it snapped its three sessions up move signaling profit booking at higher levels. Going ahead, a decisive move above last week's high of 58,577 would confirm a breakout continuation, paving the way for a rally towards 59,000 and 59,300," Bajaj Broking Research added.

However, analysts cautioned that failure to breach these levels may result in range-bound movement between 58,600 and 57,300 in the near term, with immediate support at 57,300-57,500 and stronger support around 56,800-56,500.

Report by Harshika Yadav