Indian equity markets ended Thursday’s session on a subdued note, with benchmark indices slipping slightly amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and cautious global cues from the US Federal Reserve. The broader investor sentiment remained tepid, weighed down by widespread selling across sectors.
The BSE Sensex declined 82.79 points, or 0.10%, to close at 81,361.87, while the NSE Nifty 50 edged down 18.80 points, or 0.08%, settling at 24,793.25.
Despite the overall weak tone, a few large-cap stocks managed to shine. Tata Consumer Products, Eicher Motors, and Mahindra & Mahindra emerged as top gainers within the Nifty pack, offering isolated strength. On the downside, Adani Ports and Bajaj Finance dragged the indices lower, ending as the worst performers.
Sectorally, Nifty Auto was the lone gainer, managing to buck the broader downtrend. All other major indices, including Nifty PSU Bank and Nifty Media, ended in the red, reflecting widespread risk aversion.
Market breadth was heavily skewed in favour of decliners. In the Nifty 500 universe, only 61 stocks managed to close in the green, while a staggering 438 settled lower, pointing to deep-seated selling pressure across the board.
The Bank Nifty, which mirrors the performance of banking stocks, dipped further into negative territory. For the third consecutive session, it remained locked in a narrow range between 56,067 and 55,511, signaling muted volatility and a lack of strong directional cues.
Volatility, as measured by the India VIX, stood at 14.26—suggesting moderate investor anxiety. However, analysts warn that volatility may spike in the coming sessions as geopolitical tensions unfold and investors react to fresh global data points.
