The equity benchmarks ended lower on Tuesday, extending their losing streak to the tenth consecutive session, as global trade tensions and foreign selling weighed on sentiment. The Sensex closed at 72,989.93, down 96.01 points or 0.13 per cent, while the Nifty fell 36.65 points or 0.17 per cent to settle at 22,082.65.

Markets opened on a weak note following escalating trade tensions after the US confirmed tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, prompting retaliatory measures. The continued selling by foreign institutional investors (FIIs), with outflows nearing $13 billion in 2025, further dampened sentiment.

Top gainers

State Bank of India (SBIN) led the gains, surging 3.02 per cent to ₹716.15, driven by strong quarterly results and an optimistic outlook in the banking sector.

Zomato gained 2.45 per cent to ₹227.50, buoyed by increased investor confidence in the food delivery space.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) added 1.03 per cent to close at ₹3,532.65 amid sustained demand for IT services.

Adani Ports rose 0.63 per cent to ₹1,059.35, while Power Grid Corporation edged 0.59 per cent higher to ₹254.05.

Top losers

Bajaj Finserv was the biggest laggard, dropping 2.70 per cent to ₹1,788.60 on profit-booking after a recent rally.

HCL Technologies fell 2.40 per cent to ₹1,535.20, weighed down by sector-wide concerns over global IT spending.

Nestlé India declined 1.71 per cent to ₹2,148.35, while Asian Paints shed 1.66 per cent to ₹2,132.35.

Bharti Airtel ended 1.13 per cent lower at ₹1,576.65, pressured by weakness in telecom stocks.

Weak global cues and persistent selling by foreign investors continued to weigh on market sentiment. Analysts suggest that volatility may persist in the coming sessions amid economic uncertainties and upcoming policy announcements.

Published on March 4, 2025