Markets ended lower on Wednesday, as selling pressure dominated trading amid cautious investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex fell 245 points to close at 86,150, while the Nifty 50 slipped 85 points to end at 25,666, extending the recent trend of volatility.
Sector-wise, IT and realty stocks were the biggest drag, with TCS and Asian Paints among the top losers, dropping nearly 2% each. Profit-booking and sector rotation contributed to the decline in these large-cap names. Other IT and real estate shares also underperformed, keeping the benchmarks under pressure throughout the session.
On the other hand, metal and PSU stocks outperformed, providing selective support to the indices. Tata Steel and Axis Bank were notable gainers, rising on domestic demand optimism and sector-specific interest. Energy and industrial shares also saw modest gains, partially offsetting losses in IT and realty.
Market analysts noted that foreign institutional selling added to the downward pressure, while firm crude oil prices and geopolitical concerns limited risk appetite. Investors appeared cautious ahead of upcoming corporate earnings and macroeconomic updates, keeping markets range-bound.
Trading activity showed a mixed picture, with defensive and industrial sectors attracting interest even as broader market sentiment remained subdued. Experts suggest that a sustained rebound may require clear triggers from earnings surprises or macroeconomic cues, particularly in IT, banking, and metals sectors.
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