Benchmark indices reversed early gains to trade in the red at midday Thursday, with the Sensex down 33.58 points at 81,411.08 and the Nifty falling 7 points to 24,805.05, as investor sentiment remained cautious amid persistent geopolitical tensions and Federal Reserve policy concerns.
The 30-stock Sensex declined 0.04 per cent from its previous close of 81,444.66, while the broader Nifty50 dropped 0.03 per cent from Tuesday’s close of 24,812.05. Both indices had opened lower, with the Sensex starting at 81,403.94 and the Nifty at 24,803.25.
Market breadth remained weak across the broader market, with 2,747 stocks declining against 1,038 advancing on the BSE. A total of 3,953 stocks were traded, while 246 stocks hit their lower circuit limits compared to 159 in the upper circuit. Sixty-three stocks touched their 52-week highs, while 56 reached 52-week lows.
Sectoral indices showed a mixed performance, with the Nifty Bank declining 0.38 per cent to 55,616.85, and the Nifty Financial Services down 0.29 per cent at 26,322.20. The broader Nifty Midcap 100 underperformed significantly, falling 1.21 per cent to 57,405.75, while the Nifty Next 50 dropped 0.96 per cent to 66,148.35.
Among Nifty50 constituents, Tata Consumer Products emerged as the top gainer, rising 2.04 per cent to 1,086.90, followed by Eicher Motors, which gained 1.72 per cent to 5,485.50. Titan Company advanced 1.52 per cent to 3,520.60, while Mahindra & Mahindra climbed 1.27 per cent to 3,079.80. Wipro rounded out the top five gainers, with a 1.22 per cent increase to 264.77.
On the downside, Adani Ports led the losers, falling 2.06 per cent to 1,344.30. Bajaj Finance declined 1.52 per cent to 905, while HDFC Life Insurance dropped 1.44 per cent to 755.20. Tech Mahindra slipped 1.32 per cent to 1,688.20, and IndusInd Bank fell 1.25 per cent to 839.90.
The market’s reversal came despite positive institutional flows, with both foreign and domestic institutional investors having pumped in significant funds during the morning session. However, ongoing concerns about the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance on interest rates and escalating West Asia tensions continued to weigh on investor sentiment.
Trading volumes remained active, with several large-cap stocks witnessing significant turnover as investors remained selective in their approach amid the uncertain global environment.