Markets End Flat Amid Volatility; Sensex Rises 16 Points, Nifty Gains 32 Points

Mumbai, December 11 – Indian equity markets closed marginally higher on Wednesday after a volatile trading session, reflecting cautious investor sentiment ahead of key global economic data. The BSE Sensex gained 16 points, while the NSE Nifty climbed 32 points.

The benchmark BSE Sensex edged up by 16.09 points or 0.02 percent to close at 81,526.14, with 17 of its 30 constituents ending in the red. Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty recovered from a three-day losing streak, gaining 31.75 points or 0.13 percent to settle at 24,641.80.

Top Gainers and Losers

Among Sensex constituents, Bajaj Finance, Nestle India, Bajaj Finserv, Asian Paints, UltraTech Cement, Infosys, Maruti Suzuki, Bharti Airtel, and Hindustan Unilever saw gains. On the other hand, JSW Steel, Adani Ports, NTPC, State Bank of India, Reliance Industries, Tech Mahindra, Axis Bank, Titan, and HDFC Bank were among the top losers.

Market Overview

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said, "The Indian markets remained subdued, reflecting mixed global sentiments ahead of U.S. retail inflation data, which could influence the Federal Reserve's policy stance."

In the broader markets, the BSE Smallcap Index rose by 0.35 percent, while the BSE Midcap Index gained 0.25 percent.

Sectorally, consumer durables advanced by 0.59 percent, industrials by 0.40 percent, and auto by 0.37 percent. However, sectors like utilities, banking, power, and services saw declines.

Market Sentiment

Ameya Randive, Senior Technical Analyst at Stockbox, noted, "The market witnessed lackluster performance, with trading confined to a narrow range and relatively low volumes."

On the BSE, 2,146 stocks advanced, 1,840 declined, and 110 remained unchanged. The total market capitalization of listed companies on the BSE increased by ₹91,110.2 crore, reaching ₹4,60,46,637.96 crore.

Global Cues

Asian markets had a mixed day, with Japan’s Nikkei, China’s Shanghai Composite, and South Korea’s Kospi closing higher, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended in the red. European markets exhibited a mixed trend during early trading hours, while U.S. markets closed lower on Tuesday.

In the commodities market, Brent crude rose by 0.98 percent to reach $72.90 per barrel.

Foreign Institutional Investments

According to exchange data, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth ₹1,285.96 crore on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the BSE Sensex had risen by 1.59 points to close at 81,510.05, while the NSE Nifty had dropped 8.95 points to end at 24,610.05.