Benchmark indices fell sharply on Tuesday due to a combination of profit-booking after recent gains, weak sentiment on global cues, and rising investor caution. fell over 400 points and Nifty 50 was down 133 points.
Profit taking by traders in heavyweight stocks, such as HDFC Bank and Trent, have weighed on key indices, while market participants remain cautious ahead of macroeconomic developments and lingering global uncertainties.
Additionally, concerns around trade tensions and geopolitical events have dampened risk appetite, contributing to the downside pressure in equities.
Sensex traded 421.46 pts or 0.49 per cent lower at 85,018.16, hitting an intraday low of 84,958.27. depreciated by 82.90 pts or 0.32 per cent to 26,167.40, after an intraday fall of 133 pts so far.
Both midcap and smallcap dipped to trade in negative territory.
On the sectoral front, indices staged a mixed trend. Oil & gas index shed nearly 2 per cent. Media, chemicals and FMCGs also dipped, while healthcare, pharma, PSU Bank and metal indices led the gainers list.
Defence stocks also witnessed significant profit booking.
Trent, Reliance top losers of Nifty 50
Shares of Apollo Hospitals, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Auto, Hindalco and SBI led the gainers of Nifty 50 pack. and emerged as major laggards. , ITC, Jio Financial and Kotak Mahindra Bank were other major losers.
A total of 3,094 stocks were traded on the National Stock Exchange at the time of writing, with market breadth leaning negative as 1,114 stocks advanced while 1,877 declined, and 103 remained unchanged. Market activity showed mixed momentum, with 92 stocks hitting their 52-week highs compared to 76 touching their 52-week lows.
In addition, 52 stocks were locked in the upper circuit, whereas 49 stocks were in the lower circuit.
Midcap & smallcap movers
Under the midcap basket, National Aluminium, Union Bank of India, Fortis, IndusInd Bank, MFSL and Voltas increased by 1-6 per cent, while Swiggy, Vishal Mega Mart, Premier Energies, Federal Bank, Waaree Energies and Godfrey Phillips fell 3-4 per cent.
Smallcap stocks Redington, IIFL, MCX, Kajaria Ceramics, Hindustan Copper and Natco Pharma soared 2-4 per cent, while Ola Electric, Inox Wind, First Cry and IGIL declined 3 per cent.
On the BSE, Aether, South Indian Bank, National Aluminium, Strides Pharma and Tamilnad Mercantile Bank surged 4-7 per cent. Trent and VMart shares dragged the most.