The equity markets encountered losses on Thursday as frontline indices tumbled amid growing uncertainty over global trade developments and weakness in heavyweight stocks.
The S&P BSE Sensex ended 542.47 points lower at 82,184.17, while the NSE Nifty50 declined 157.80 points to close at 25,062.10. Selling pressure was visible across sectors, with FMCG, IT, and financial stocks dragging the indices down.
Broader market indices also witnessed sharp declines as volatility surged throughout the session. Market mood was dampened by tepid global cues and rising anxiety over delays in the much-anticipated India-US trade agreement, which investors were hoping would be finalised during Prime Minister Modi’s ongoing visit to the UK.
Among sectoral drags, FMCG stocks led the decline, with Nestle India falling over 5% to become the top loser on the Nifty50. Weakness was also visible in IT stocks, which mirrored a poor overnight performance on Wall Street amid renewed concerns over US inflation and interest rate trajectory.
Other major laggards included Trent, Tech Mahindra, Shriram Finance, and Reliance Industries — all of which weighed heavily on benchmark indices.
Only a handful of stocks bucked the trend. The top Nifty gainers were Eicher Motors, Dr Reddy’s, Tata Motors, Tata Consumer Products, and Cipla — offering some cushion to the otherwise downbeat session.
Market analysts said the sharp fall reflects a convergence of short-term uncertainties. “From disappointing global cues to concerns over whether India will secure favourable trade terms with the US, there’s a lot for investors to digest right now,” said a Mumbai-based fund manager.
With Q1 earnings season in full swing and the trade deal timeline still unclear, analysts expect near-term market volatility to persist.
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