Indian equity markets closed marginally lower on Thursday after a volatile trading session marked by global uncertainties. Despite the imposition of tariffs by the United States on Indian imports, domestic indices managed to avert a sharp selloff, buoyed by buying interest in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) stocks.
The benchmark Sensex closed at 81,185.58, shedding 296.28 points or 0.36 per cent. It had opened sharply lower at 80,695.50 following weak global cues but briefly rebounded in the afternoon session, touching an intraday high of 81,803.27 before slipping again in the final hour due to the expiry of monthly derivatives.
The Nifty 50 settled at 24,768.35, down 86.70 points or 0.35 per cent.
Market analysts said the indices reflected the underlying strength of the Indian economy, which continues to show resilience amid global headwinds. “Investors gravitated toward domestically oriented, non-discretionary players, especially FMCG, which offered attractive valuations, demand outlook and relative insulation from tariff risks,” analysts noted.
Hindustan Unilever led the gains on the back of encouraging quarterly results, lifting the Nifty FMCG index by 791 points or 1.44 per cent. ITC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Eternal were also among the gainers.
On the downside, major drag came from heavyweight stocks like Tata Steel, Sun Pharma, NTPC, Reliance, Asian Paints, L&T, and Titan, which contributed to the day’s losses. Most sectoral indices ended in the red. Nifty Auto declined by 89 points, Nifty IT slipped 180 points, and Nifty Bank was down by 188 points.
The broader market reflected a similar sentiment with the Nifty Midcap 100 falling 0.93 per cent and Nifty Smallcap 100 down 1.05 per cent, indicating profit booking across segments.
Despite the subdued closing, market experts remain cautiously optimistic, citing strong domestic fundamentals and the rotation of investor interest toward sectors less exposed to global trade tensions.
-IANS