The market ended lower on Wednesday, with both major indices closing in the red amid cautious investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex fell 120 points to close at 84,559, while the NSE Nifty 50 slipped below 25,850, settling at 25,818.
Leading the losses were key banking stocks, with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank dragging the market down. Other prominent losers included Trent, Adani Ports, and Bajaj Finserv, which fell between 1% and 2% during the session. These declines outweighed gains in some segments, keeping the benchmarks under pressure.
On the positive side, public sector banks performed well, with the PSU Bank index rising around 1.2%. This was a rare bright spot amid a broad selloff. However, other sectors such as media, private banks, real estate, consumer durables, FMCG, and healthcare ended lower, reflecting a cautious mood among investors.
The weakness also extended to broader market indices. Mid-cap stocks fell approximately 0.5%, while small-cap stocks lost around 0.7%, indicating that the market pressure was not limited to the largest companies alone.
Market analysts attributed the decline to subdued global cues and ongoing concerns in the domestic financial sector. With major banking counters under pressure, investors appeared cautious, and buying momentum remained muted throughout the trading day.
Overall, the market showed a defensive tone, with losses concentrated in financial and consumer sectors, while select public sector banks provided limited support. Investors are expected to monitor upcoming earnings reports and global developments closely for market direction.
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