Indian equity benchmarks closed lower on Tuesday, deepening the previous session’s losses as weak global signals and sustained foreign portfolio outflows weighed on market sentiment. The BSE Sensex settled at 84,679.86, declining 533.50 points or 0.63%, while the NSE Nifty 50 ended at 25,860.10, down 167.20 points or 0.64%.
On the NSE, 3,211 stocks were traded during the session, with 1,023 gaining, 2,096 losing ground, and 92 closing flat. In addition, 25 stocks hit their 52-week highs, while 98 fell to their 52-week low.
Selling pressure remained widespread throughout the session, with financials, metals, realty and IT stocks bearing the brunt of the decline. The Nifty IT index fell 0.84 per cent, Nifty Metal declined 0.84 per cent, and Nifty PSU Bank slipped 0.89 per cent. Defensive sectors offered limited support, as Nifty FMCG ended almost flat, while Nifty Consumer Durables gained 0.55 per cent.
Banking-heavy indices continued to underperform the broader market. The Nifty Bank index slipped 0.72 per cent, while the Nifty Private Bank index declined a sharper 1.23 per cent.
Siddhartha Khemka – Head of Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd states Indian equities ended lower, with Nifty extending the previous session’s decline as caution prevailed amid persistent FII selling and rupee weakening to new record lows. Nifty50 closed with a loss of 167 points at 25,860 (-0.6%). Broader market witnessed selling pressure with Nifty Midcap100 and Smallcap100 down -0.8% each. Amongst sectors, private banking and financial services indices were the worst performers, declining over -1% each. IT stocks witnessed profit booking after a three-day rally during which the sector had gained up to 2%.
Meanwhile, Fertiliser stocks surged after the Finance Minister assured of ample urea supply during the Rabi season. Nifty Consumer Durables was the sole index ending in the green, rising +0.6%. Among the consumer durables, we maintain a positive outlook on the Cables and Wires segment. We expect demand momentum to remain strong in power cables, driven by healthy demand in the power generation, transmission and distribution sectors, increasing capex in data centres, strong real estate demand, and infrastructure projects.
On the macro front, investors would track key US economic data including Nonfarm payrolls (Nov’25), Unemployment Rate and Monthly Retail Sales to be released later today. Overall, we expect the Indian markets to trade sideways in the absence of any meaningful near-term triggers.
