Sensex, Nifty end in red as metal and auto stocks pull markets down

The S&P BSE Sensex was down 152.93 points to close at 81,820.12, while the NSE Nifty50 lost 61.85 points to end at 25,066.15. 

In Short

• Sensex and Nifty closed lower amid high volatility
• Metal, auto stocks led the decline, dragging indices down
• BPCL, ICICI Bank, and Bharti Airtel were among top gainers

Benchmark stock market indices closed lower on Tuesday amid high volatility dragged by a decline in metal and auto stocks.

The S&P BSE Sensex was down 152.93 points to close at 81,820.12, while the NSE Nifty50 lost 61.85 points to end at 25,066.15.

Vaibhav Vidwani, Research Analyst, Bonanza, said that the market sentiment was weighed down by inflation concerns and mixed global cues, despite some sectors like real estate showing resilience with a 2% gain.

"Heavy selling pressure was observed in the metals sector, which declined by 1.44%, reflecting broader economic anxieties. Meanwhile, the upcoming IPO of Hyundai Motor India garnered attention as it opened for subscription today, indicating ongoing investor interest in new market entries. Overall, the market closed on a cautious note as investors remained vigilant amid fluctuating global conditions and domestic economic indicators," he added.

Leading the gainers was Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), which saw a significant increase of 2.52%. ICICI Bank followed with a strong rise of 1.97%, while Bharti Airtel gained 1.32%. Britannia Industries also performed well, climbing 1.22%, and Asian Paints rounded out the top gainers with a 1.18% increase.

On the flip side, several stocks faced substantial declines. HDFC Life Insurance experienced the steepest drop, falling by 3.58%. Wipro was also hit hard, declining by 3.07%. Bajaj Auto saw a significant decrease of 3.04%, while Bajaj Finance fell by 2.48%. Hindalco Industries completed the list of top losers with a drop of 2.19%.

Ajit Mishra – SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd said that sectoral performance was mixed, with realty and FMCG finishing in the green, while metals and auto were among the top losers. The broader indices once again outperformed, with the small-cap index gaining over a percent.

"This market movement aligns with expectations, and we recommend maintaining a cautious stance until Nifty decisively surpasses the 25,300 level. However, select sectors and themes are still presenting buying opportunities, so traders should focus on stock selection and adopt a balanced approach," he added.