Indian equity markets ended marginally lower on Thursday after a volatile session marked by profit booking and cautious global cues. The BSE Sensex fell 114 points to close at 77,844.52, while the NSE Nifty slipped 4.30 points to settle at 24,326.65. Both indices moved in a narrow range through the day, reflecting indecision among investors.
The session began on a positive note, with the Sensex rising over 200 points in early trade and the Nifty briefly crossing the 24,400 level. Sentiment was supported by favourable global cues and easing crude oil prices, which improved the outlook for import-heavy economies like India. Early optimism was also driven by expectations of easing geopolitical tensions, which lifted risk appetite.
However, the momentum faded as the day progressed. Investors turned cautious and booked profits after recent gains, leading to a gradual erosion of early advances. Concerns over sustained foreign institutional investor outflows and mixed global signals further weighed on sentiment. As a result, volatility remained elevated throughout the session.
Among sectoral trends, auto stocks stood out as key gainers. Shares of Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp and Mahindra & Mahindra advanced on expectations of steady demand and a stable outlook for the automobile sector. Buying interest in these counters helped cushion broader market losses.
On the other hand, IT and banking stocks came under pressure and dragged the benchmarks lower. Heavyweights such as Infosys, TCS and State Bank of India witnessed selling as investors booked profits after recent rallies. Weakness in these sectors offset gains in autos and limited overall market upside.