Indian Market Close: Nifty Ends Lower, Sensex Ekes Out Gains
The Nifty 50 closed at 24,567, down 69 points or 0.28%, while the Sensex settled at 78,498, up 152 points or 0.19%, in a choppy session marked by sharp intraday swings. The benchmark index opened weak at 24,539 and traded under pressure through the afternoon before late bargain hunting trimmed losses.
Nifty tested an intraday low near 24,542 during mid-session before recovering marginally toward the close. The index shed 0.38% during early trade but managed to pare some of the decline by the final bell, reflecting mixed sentiment across sectors.
| Index | Close | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,567 | -69.30 | -0.28% |
| Sensex | 78,498 | +152.05 | +0.19% |
Sector Performance Mixed as IT, Auto Ancillary Lead
Sectoral action diverged sharply. Information Technology stocks gained 1.59%, providing crucial support to prevent a broader selloff. Auto Ancillary advanced 1.96% and Education surged 3.70%, emerging as the session's standout performer. Batteries and Electrical Equipment also notched gains of 1.62% and 1.17% respectively.
However, the positive moves were offset by weakness elsewhere, with no clear consensus among market participants. The Nifty 50 index traded range-bound for much of the day, unable to sustain any directional bias as investors digested recent volatility. Recent sessions have seen sharp intraday reversals, keeping traders cautious.
GIFT NIFTY Session: Range-Bound Trade Before Late Slide
GIFT NIFTY closed at 24,654, up just 12.50 points or 0.05% from the previous close of 24,641.50, in a session dominated by choppy price action. The contract opened at 24,681 and hit an intraday high of 24,704.50 during the late morning hours before reversing sharply lower. The day's low of 24,593.50 was recorded in the final hour of trading as selling pressure intensified.
| GIFT NIFTY | Level |
|---|---|
| LTP | 24,654.00 |
| Open | 24,681.00 |
| High | 24,704.50 |
| Low | 24,593.50 |
| Change | +12.50 (+0.05%) |
The derivatives contract tracked the cash market's volatile swings through the day. After opening firmer in overnight trade, GIFT NIFTY drifted lower alongside the domestic session, eventually settling near the middle of its 111-point intraday range. The contract saw a brief rally past 24,700 around midday before profit-taking erased gains.
Session II Outlook
GIFT NIFTY heads into the evening session marginally higher, trading just 13 points above the previous close. The flat close reflects the tug-of-war between IT-led strength and broader market weakness, with traders awaiting fresh cues before committing to either direction.