Closing Bell: Markets ended on a weak note

As the Sensex slipped nearly 500 points and the Nifty finished below the 25,650 mark, weighed down by widespread selling pressure. Broader markets underperformed, with small-cap stocks bearing the brunt. The BSE Sensex declined 0.6% to close at 83,311.38, while the NSE Nifty 50 eased 0.5% to 25,642.8. Losses were driven by continued global weakness in metal and IT stocks, which spilled over into domestic equities as optimism around a US–India trade agreement faded. The Indian rupee inched up 0.1% against the US dollar to 90.3550, supported by dollar selling from foreign banks and traders unwinding intraday bearish bets. However, corporate demand for dollar hedging capped further upside. Out of 16 key sectoral indices, 14 ended in the red. Small-cap stocks slid 1.3%, while mid-caps shed 0.3%, reflecting persistent risk aversion. Heavyweight financial stocks fell 0.4%, adding to the overall drag on benchmarks. IT shares dropped another 0.6%, extending Wednesday’s sharp 6% decline, as worries over AI-led disruption continued to dampen investor sentiment toward software companies. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.