Indian equity benchmarks closed lower for the third consecutive session on Wednesday, as persistent geopolitical uncertainties continued to dampen investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex ended 102.20 points lower, slipping 0.12 per cent to close at 84,961.14, while the NSE Nifty declined 37.95 points, or 0.14 per cent, to settle at 26,140.75.
Among Sensex constituents, automobile stocks bore the brunt of selling pressure. Shares of Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors’ passenger vehicle business declined sharply, along with Power Grid, Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints and Tata Steel, which also ended the session in the red.
In contrast to the frontline indices, broader markets showed resilience. The Nifty Midcap 100 index advanced 0.45 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 climbed 0.39 per cent, reflecting selective risk-taking by investors.
On the sectoral front, automobile and oil and gas stocks remained the weakest performers of the day. The Nifty Auto and Nifty Oil & Gas indices registered the sharpest losses, underscoring continued concerns around input costs and global energy dynamics.
