Stock Market Today: Sensex, Nifty End Lower Amid Geopolitical Tensions; Details Here

The broader market bore the brunt of the selloff, with the Nifty Smallcap 100 and Midcap 100 indices both declining by as much as 1.5 per cent, reflecting heightened pressure on non-largecap segments

The Nifty 50 and Sensex both extended losses toward the end of the trading day

Source : ABPLIVE AI

Indian equity markets closed sharply lower on Thursday following a volatile and range-bound session, as rising geopolitical tensions and the impact of weekly derivatives expiry triggered broad-based selling. The Nifty 50 and Sensex both extended losses toward the end of the trading day, with investor sentiment turning risk-averse amid growing global uncertainty.

At the closing bell, the BSE Sensex dropped 411.97 points, or 0.51 per cent, to settle at 80,334.81. The NSE Nifty 50 fell 140.60 points, or 0.58 per cent, ending the session at 24,273.80. Market breadth was decisively negative, with 2,463 stocks declining compared to just 1,229 advancing, while 123 remained unchanged.

Broader Market Update

The broader market bore the brunt of the selloff, with the Nifty Smallcap 100 and Midcap 100 indices both declining by as much as 1.5 per cent, reflecting heightened pressure on non-largecap segments.

Sectorial Update

Sectoral performance was mixed but leaned heavily toward the downside. Auto, FMCG, banking, and pharmaceutical stocks were among the biggest laggards, each shedding close to 2 per cent as investors pared exposure to defensive and consumer-oriented sectors. In contrast, IT and media stocks showed relative resilience, posting modest gains despite the overall market turbulence.

India VIX, the benchmark indicator of market volatility derived from options trading, surged 10% to 21.01 on Thursday, reflecting heightened investor anxiety. The sharp rise in the so-called "fear gauge" was driven by escalating uncertainty in the market, compounded by volatility typically associated with the weekly index expiry.

Gold Prices

Gold prices rose on Thursday as investors responded to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s cautious stance on inflation and concerns surrounding the labor market. Market participants also kept a close watch on the upcoming trade talks between the U.S. and China, which added to the safe-haven appeal of the precious metal.

On the institutional front, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were net buyers on Wednesday, acquiring shares worth Rs 2,585 crore. In contrast, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) offloaded shares worth Rs 2,378 crore net.