Indian stock markets closed the day on a cautious note, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ending almost flat.
The BSE Sensex closed at 74,612.43, up by 0.01%, while the NSE Nifty settled at 22,545.05, down by 0.01. The broader market underperformed significantly. The BSE Midcap index dropped nearly 1%, while the BSE Smallcap index slumped more than 2%, indicating selling pressure in smaller stocks.
Several sectoral indices ended in the red, with Nifty Auto, Nifty PSU Bank, Nifty Realty, and Nifty Media witnessing sharp losses, falling between 1% and 3%.
“Markets ended flat with a mixed bias as traders preferred to exercise caution on the expiry day after witnessing sell-offs over the past few weeks. While India’s expensive valuations have been driving foreign fund outflows over the past 3-5 months, the ongoing tariff-related concerns coupled with falling currency have made investors jittery,” said Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities.
Top gainers and losers of the day
In the Sensex pack, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, Sun Pharma, Zomato, and Tata Steel emerged as the top gainers. Meanwhile, UltraTech, Tata Motors, M&M, Kotak Bank, and Tech Mahindra were among the worst performers.
On the Nifty 50 front, Shriram Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, Hindalco, and Sun Pharma led the gains, while UltraTech Cement, Trent, Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors, and M&M ended among the biggest losers.