Stocks to Watch: Bajaj Auto, Paytm, L&T, Marico Among Top 10 Shares in Focus

Indian Stock Market Closes in Red, But Trends Suggest Positive Open on Wednesday

The Indian stock market closed in the red on Tuesday, 5 May, with the Nifty 50 slipping below the 24,100 mark. The Sensex declined by 251.61 points, or 0.33%, to end at 77,017.79, while the Nifty 50 fell 86.50 points, or 0.36%, to settle at 24,032.80. However, the market is likely to snap its losing streak as trends in the Gift Nifty index signalled a positive opening on Wednesday.

The Gift Nifty index was trading near the 24,322 mark, down over 216 points from the previous close of Nifty futures. The market is expected to open on a positive note, supported by firm global cues and early signals from Gift Nifty, which is trading around the 24,200 mark. The constructive setup follows a strong close on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 scaled fresh record highs, aided by easing crude oil prices and encouraging corporate earnings.

As the market is pointing towards a negative start, some stocks are likely to remain in focus on Wednesday due to their own positive/negative triggers. Among these stocks, the following are expected to be in focus:

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On Tuesday, several companies announced their quarterly results, with some posting impressive performances. Larsen & Toubro (L&T), an engineering and construction giant, posted a 3% year-on-year decline in its consolidated net profit, which stood at ₹5,326 crore for the fourth quarter, down from ₹5,497 crore in the same period last year.

Marico, a FMCG major, posted a robust performance for the March quarter, driven by strong volume growth in its domestic business and sustained momentum in international markets, although higher input costs weighed on margins. The board also proposed a final dividend of ₹4 per equity share for FY26.

Other companies that announced their quarterly results on Tuesday include Poonwalla Fincorp, which posted a profit after tax of ₹255 crore for the quarter ended March 2026, up from ₹150 crore in the December quarter, reflecting a 70% sequential increase. Hero Motocorp reported a solid performance for the March quarter, surpassing Street expectations on key metrics, driven by strong volume growth and an improved product mix.

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In other news, Biocon announced that Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has named her niece, Claire Mazumdar, as her successor at the company. The transition is expected to take place gradually, with Shaw remaining in charge for now.

Additionally, Coforge announced that the merger with Cigniti Technologies will take effect following the filing of the NCLT order. The consolidation is expected to be beneficial in terms of scale and capabilities, while the record date for the share swap will be announced in due course.

Vikran Engineering set up a wholly owned subsidiary, Vikran Renewable, to focus on solar and integrated energy projects, marking a strategic move into the renewable energy space. United Breweries posted a net profit of ₹101.7 crore in the fourth quarter, up from ₹97.4 crore in the corresponding period last year, reflecting a 4.4% year-on-year growth.