Indian banking stocks quietly extended their winning streak. For the fourth session in a row, buyers stayed in control. The result was clear on the screen—Nifty Bank share price moved to a fresh lifetime high, helped by steady buying in large lenders like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and SBI.
The broader tone in the stock market today remained supportive, with banking stocks once again doing the heavy lifting.
Market Performance: Nifty Bank Sets a New Benchmark
Friday’s session saw continued strength across banking counters. There was no sharp spike. Just consistent buying, session after session.
- Nifty Bank index rose 0.73%
- Hit a new all-time high of 60,152
- Crossed the previous peak of 60,114 recorded on December 01
- Index is up 2% in just four trading sessions
This steady climb shows how banking stocks have become the backbone of the current market rally.
The move also spilled over into headline indices.
- Nifty 50 gained 0.60%
- Sensex advanced 0.60%
Banking strength remains a key driver for overall market momentum.
Main News: Banking Stocks Lead the Charge
The rally was broad-based. Both private and public sector banks participated, keeping sentiment firm throughout the session.
Among the notable movers:
- Yes Bank jumped 3.7% to an intraday high of ₹22.27
- Union Bank of India gained nearly 2%
- IndusInd Bank moved up 1.5%
Heavyweights also stayed in the green:
- ICICI Bank traded over 1% higher
- HDFC Bank posted gains of more than 1%
- State Bank of India (SBI) edged higher by over 1%
- Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank also advanced
This mix of PSU and private banks moving together added depth to the rally and kept the Nifty Bank share price trend intact.
Company Updates: December Quarter Data in Focus
Mid-week updates from select banks helped shape market sentiment.
On Thursday, three banks released their December quarter business updates:
Key takeaways from these updates stayed within expected operational trends and kept confidence stable across the sector. There were no negative surprises large enough to disturb the ongoing rally.
The flow of quarterly updates continues to act as a short-term trigger for banking stocks in the stock market today.
Credit Growth Trends Support Sentiment
System-level data also offered comfort to investors tracking banking stocks.
As per the latest fortnightly data (15 December 2025):
- System credit growth improved to 12% YoY
- Up from 11.5% YoY as of 28 November 2025
- Deposit growth moderated to 9.4% YoY
- Earlier reading stood at 10.2% YoY
In addition, RBI’s sectoral credit data for November 2025 showed:
- Overall system credit growth at 11.4% YoY
- Compared with 11.1% YoY in October
- And 10.2% YoY in September
The data highlights steady momentum across lending activity, which continues to shape market behavior in stocks like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and SBI.
Financial Stability Trends Add Comfort
Another supportive element came from the RBI’s recently released Financial Stability Report (FSR).
The report pointed toward improving trends in:
- Overall asset quality
- System-level financial stability indicators
While markets didn’t react sharply to the report, it added to the underlying confidence supporting banking stocks at higher levels.
Why Banking Stocks Are Carrying the Market?
The rally in Nifty Bank hasn’t been driven by speculation. Instead, it’s a result of multiple small positives aligning at once.
- Gradual improvement in credit growth
- Stable deposit trends
- Ongoing quarterly updates
- Broader market participation across banks
This explains why large names like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and SBI continue to attract steady interest rather than sharp, short-lived spikes.
Summary: Banking Strength Keeps Market Momentum Alive
To sum it up, the stock market today is leaning heavily on banking stocks for direction.
- Nifty Bank has climbed 2% in four sessions
- The index touched a new record high of 60,152
- Gains were broad-based across private and PSU banks
- Credit growth trends remain supportive
- Financial stability indicators are improving
As long as this steady flow of data continues, banking stocks are likely to remain central to market movement. For now, names like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and SBI are doing exactly what market leaders are meant to do—keeping the rally alive, one session at a time.
Source: Livemint
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