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Devina Mehra On How Markets Performed In 2024 And What’s Next For 2025
2024 Market Recap & 2025 Outlook: Where Should Investors Focus? The year 2024 has been a rollercoaster for the stock market. The first half witnessed a stellar rally, with Nifty and Sensex delivering returns of around 11%. However, the second half brought disappointment, wiping out gains as markets faced mounting challenges. Top-performing sectors of 2024 included Plastics Products (+277%), Shipbuilding (+116%), Consumer Durables (+74%), Hospitality (+69%), and Capital Goods (+65%). On the flip side, Diamond & Jewellery stocks suffered a loss of 28%, with Media stocks down 7%, among other underperformers. Indian markets struggled in the latter half of the year due to multiple factors. The economy recorded its weakest growth in multiple quarters, at 5.4% in Q2. Persistent geopolitical tensions, including the Israel-Iran war and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, weighed heavily on investor sentiment. The crude oil and commodities markets underperformed, while the Indian rupee hit record lows against the dollar. FIIs (Foreign Institutional Investors) were net sellers, withdrawing ₹1.14 lakh crore in October, ₹46,000 crore in November, and over ₹4,000 crore in December.