Indian equity benchmark indices closed on a mixed note on Tuesday, as weakness in information technology stocks weighed on overall sentiment, while buying interest in financial, FMCG and metal shares provided partial support.
Investor caution persisted ahead of the weekly expiry of Nifty derivatives, limiting sharp moves in the market.
The BSE Sensex snapped its two-day winning streak and ended marginally lower, slipping 0.05 per cent to close at 85,524.84. In contrast, the Nifty 50 extended its gains for a third straight session, edging up 0.02 per cent, or 4.75 points, to settle at 26,177.15.
Market participants said that from a technical standpoint, the Nifty continues to trade above the key support zone of 26,000–26,100, which is acting as a strong base. Sustaining above this level could keep the short-term trend positive.
On the Sensex, shares of ITC, UltraTech Cement and Tata Steel emerged as the top gainers, supported by buying in FMCG and metal stocks.
However, selling pressure in IT stocks weighed on the index, with Infosys, Tech Mahindra and Bharti Airtel closing among the top losers.
A similar trend was seen on the NSE, where Coal India, Shriram Finance and ITC ended the session as leading gainers, while losses in Infosys and Bharti Airtel capped broader gains.
In the broader market, indices showed mixed movement. The Nifty SmallCap 100 rose 0.37 per cent, reflecting selective buying in smaller stocks, while the Nifty MidCap 100 ended nearly flat.
Sectorally, the IT index was the biggest laggard, declining 0.80 per cent amid continued weakness in technology stocks. In contrast, the media index led the gains with a rise of 0.84 per cent. Metal and FMCG stocks also closed higher, helping limit losses in the broader market.
-IANS
