Equity benchmarks ended flat on Tuesday, snapping 2-day rally, as markets traded in a narrow range amid profit-booking, mixed global cues and lack of positive domestic triggers in the holiday-shortened week.
Markets will be closed on December 25, 2025, Thursday, on account of Christmas.
According to Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments, marginal support from financials and FMCG stocks helped offset broader weakness across sectors, while investors remained cautious ahead of the upcoming earnings season and closely tracked evolving US Federal Reserve policy expectations.
While an improving domestic demand outlook provides underlying support, uncertainty around global trade negotiations and the trajectory of the rupee will continue to influence sentiment, Nair added.
On the global front, market participants remain cautious ahead of the release of key US macroeconomic data, including the second estimate of Q3 US GDP and the PCE inflation index, Ashika Institutional Equities highlighted.
The market will likely resume its uptrend after a consolidation movement or range bound action in a couple of sessions, emphasised, Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities.
Sensex dipped 42.64 points or 0.05 per cent to end at 85,524.84, and Nifty 50 inched up 4.75 points or 0.02 per cent to 26,177.15.
The volatility index declined. India VIX slipped further and recorded its lowest-ever close on Tuesday, underscoring the persistent decline in market volatility and the growing complacency among traders, Sudeep Shah, Head – Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities, said.
The Nifty midcap 100 closed almost unchanged, while the Nifty smallcap 100 showed resilience.
On the sectoral front, positive momentum was visible in media, metals, chemicals, commodities and energy stocks. On the flip side, selling pressure was observed in IT, pharma, healthcare, realty and PSU Bank stocks.
IT index dipped after gaining in the last four sessions. A rate cut in the key US market would improve sentiment and spur client spending for such export-linked sectors.
Coal India, Shriram Finance, ITC lead Nifty 50 pack
Among the Nifty 50 pack, Coal India, Shriram Finance, ITC, UltraTech Cement and TMPV shares led the gainers, while Infosys, Bharti Airtel, Adani Ports, Sun Pharma and Tech Mahindra emerged as major laggards.
Market breadth remained moderately positive, with 4,365 stocks traded on the BSE, of which 2,292 advanced while 1,892 declined and 181 ended unchanged.
The market saw 107 stocks hitting their 52-week highs, compared with 85 stocks touching 52-week lows. Circuit activity was limited, with seven stocks each locked in upper and lower circuits.
rallied as it dismissed corporate misgovernance allegations as “malicious and baseless”.
Railway-related stocks attracted strong participation interest, aided by order inflows and expectations around upcoming policy developments.
In addition, cement stocks were in focus after l for a major merger involving ACC and Orient Cement, leading to gains of up to 10 percent in Ambuja Cements and Orient Cement shares.
Midcap & smallcap movers today
Under the midcap segment, NMDC, RVNL, GMR Airports, IREDA and SAIL soared 2-4 per cent, while Coforge, M&M Financial, ACC, BSE and Federal Bank fell 1.5-5 per cent.
Jupiter Wagons, Ircon International, IFCI, Cholamandalam Investment and Affle zoomed 3-8 per cent among smallcap stocks, while Aegis Vopak, Kajaria Ceramics, Neuland Lab, MRPL and Cyient fell 2-3 per cent.
Global market trend
Asian markets showed a mixed trend. European equities were trading with mixed cues.
The US markets closed higher on Monday.
FIIs sold equities worth ₹457.34 crore on Monday, while the DIIs remained buyers, for equities worth ₹4,058.22 crore, exchange data showed.
FIIs turned cautious after brief buying activity, while bond yields edged higher, with the 10-year government bond yield moving toward 6.70 percent amid supply-related concerns. The rupee remained relatively stable, supported by demand in the forward market, even as currency volatility stayed elevated, Gaurav Garg, Research Analyst Lemonn Markets Desk, said.
On Monday, at 85,567.48, and Nifty 50 zoomed by 206 points or 0.79 per cent to 26,172.40.