Today Stock Market : Nifty below 24,250, Sensex flat; smallcaps outperform, pharma stocks under pressure

Indian benchmark indices remained range-bound in a volatile session on Friday, with the Nifty holding below the 24,250 mark while the Sensex traded almost unchanged. The broader market continued to outperform, with small-cap stocks witnessing stronger buying interest, while pharma shares remained under pressure. The Sensex was up 2.15 points, or 0.00%, at 77,539.87, while the Nifty slipped 0.40 points, or 0.00%, to 24,245 Market breadth remained positive despite the lacklustre movement in the headline indices. Around 2,069 shares advanced, while 1,710 declined and 173 stocks were unchanged. Investors remained cautious amid ongoing volatility, with selective buying in broader-market stocks helping limit the downside. Sector-wise, weakness in pharma stocks weighed on the benchmarks, while buying interest in select pockets of the market provided support. Overall, the market continued to consolidate near key levels as investors awaited fresh triggers for the next directional move. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing,