News

Indian equity markets ended Wednesday’s session on a muted note, as benchmark indices struggled to build momentum amid mixed global cues and inconclusive signals from the US jobs data.

After two consecutive sessions of decline, markets attempted a mild recovery but eventually closed marginally lower. The BSE Sensex slipped 120 points to close at 84,559.65, while the Nifty 50 declined 42 points to settle at 25,818.55.

The Nifty tested the 25,800 level during the session, reflecting cautious sentiment among investors as they continued to assess the interest rate outlook and global economic trends.

Sectorally, PSU banks outperformed the broader market, with the Nifty PSU Bank index rising nearly 1 per cent. State Bank of India emerged as a key gainer, advancing over 1.5 per cent and lending support to the banking space. Select IT stocks also saw buying interest, with Infosys, TCS, HCL Technologies, and Tech Mahindra ending modestly higher.

Other frontline gainers included Axis Bank, Sun Pharma, Maruti Suzuki, Reliance Industries, and UltraTech Cement, which posted marginal gains and helped limit the downside in the benchmarks.

On the downside, selling pressure was visible in heavyweight private banks and consumption-oriented stocks. HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ITC, Titan, Asian Paints, and Trent were among the notable laggards, dragging the indices lower.

On December 17, 2025, Indian equity markets closed on a weak note across most indices. The Nifty 50 ended at 25,818.55, down 0.16 per cent, while broader markets underperformed.

The Nifty Next 50 slipped 0.38 per cent, midcap indices declined in the range of 0.54 per cent to 0.70 per cent, and smallcap indices fell as much as 0.90 per cent, reflecting continued selling pressure beyond frontline stocks.

Sectoral performance was mixed during the session. The Nifty PSU Bank index emerged as the top performer, rising 1.29 per cent on the back of gains in public sector lenders.

Select pockets such as IT (up 0.29 per cent), metal (up 0.25 per cent), oil and gas (up 0.23 per cent), and pharma (up 0.09 per cent) also managed marginal gains.

In contrast, media stocks declined sharply with the index down 1.71 per cent, while consumer durables fell 0.96 per cent, realty slipped 0.84 per cent, FMCG declined 0.47 per cent, financial services fell 0.49 per cent, and private banks ended 0.44 per cent lower, weighing on overall market sentiment.

Market breadth remained negative, highlighting the broader weakness. Out of 3,224 stocks traded on the NSE, 2,084 stocks declined, 1,055 stocks advanced, and 85 stocks remained unchanged.

During the session, 47 stocks touched fresh 52-week highs, while 152 stocks slipped to new 52-week lows. A total of 60 stocks hit upper circuits, and an equal number were locked in lower circuits.

At the close of trade, the total market capitalisation of all listed companies stood at Rs 463.82 lakh crore, reflecting the cautious mood prevailing in the market.