The Indian stock market ended in the red on Wednesday, with major indices dragged down by banking and financial sector stocks, despite a repo rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Investor sentiment remained subdued amid global economic uncertainties, notably fears of an escalating trade war and rising U.S. bond yields.
Market Snapshot
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BSE Sensex: â–¼ 379.73 points to 73,847.15
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NSE Nifty50: â–¼ 136.70 points to 22,399.15
Key Factors Behind the Fall
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Repo rate cut by RBI and an accommodative policy stance failed to lift sentiment.
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Global selling pressure triggered by reciprocal tariffs, raising concerns about a potential trade war.
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Rising U.S. bond yields led to sell-offs in safe-haven assets, adding to the volatility.
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Growing recession fears further impacted investor confidence, with weak outlooks across multiple sectors.
Top Gainers on Sensex
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Nestle India: â–² 3.24%
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Hindustan Unilever: â–² 2.63%
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Titan Company: â–² 1.66%
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Power Grid Corporation: â–² 1.56%
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UltraTech Cement: â–² 1.03%
Top Losers on Sensex
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State Bank of India (SBI): â–¼ 3.43%
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Tech Mahindra: â–¼ 3.35%
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Larsen & Toubro (L&T): â–¼ 3.23%
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Tata Steel: â–¼ 2.30%
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Sun Pharma: â–¼ 2.18%
Sectoral Performance
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Biggest Losers:
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Nifty PSU Bank: â–¼ 2.52%
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Nifty IT: â–¼ 2.19%
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Nifty Pharma: â–¼ 1.97%
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Nifty Realty: â–¼ 1.90%
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Nifty Metal: â–¼ 1.48%
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Mild to Moderate Losses:
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Nifty Financial Services: â–¼ 0.84%
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Nifty Private Bank: â–¼ 0.32%
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Nifty Oil & Gas: â–¼ 0.27%
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Only Gaining Sectors:
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Nifty FMCG: â–² 1.78%
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Nifty Consumer Durables: â–² 0.23%
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Nifty Auto: â–² 0.01%
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India VIX (volatility index): â–² 4.83%, signaling heightened market fear.
Expert Commentary
Vinod Nair of Geojit Financial Services noted that IT stocks are under pressure ahead of weak Q4 results, and pharma stocks face uncertainties due to U.S. tariff threats. In contrast, FMCG stocks have outperformed due to their insulation from global headwinds and stable domestic demand.
Broader Market
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Nifty Smallcap 100: â–¼ 0.86%
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Nifty Midcap 100: â–¼ 0.51%
The day's performance reflects a cautious, risk-off sentiment among investors, with even the RBI's policy support unable to counter the drag from global macroeconomic challenges.