Indian equity benchmark indices closed lower on Wednesday, extending losses for the third consecutive session as rising geopolitical tensions kept investor sentiment cautious.
The BSE Sensex settled at 81,909.63, down 270.84 points or 0.33 per cent, while the Nifty 50 ended 75 points or 0.3 per cent lower at 25,157.5.
Market participants remained cautious amid global uncertainty, with analysts noting that recent price action reflects consolidation following earlier gains rather than a clear trend reversal.
Selling pressure was observed in several heavyweight stocks. ICICI Bank, Trent, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Axis Bank, and Larsen & Toubro were among the top drags on the Sensex.
Gains in select stocks helped limit sharper losses. Shares of Eternal, UltraTech Cement, Adani Ports, and IndiGo witnessed buying interest during the session.
On the sectoral front, Nifty Chemicals recorded the sharpest decline, falling 2.12 per cent. Nifty Consumer Durables slipped 1.66 per cent, while Nifty Bank ended 1.02 per cent lower.
In contrast, metal and oil and gas stocks showed resilience. The Nifty Metal index gained 0.57 per cent, while the Nifty Oil and Gas index rose 0.27 per cent.
The broader market also remained under pressure. The Nifty Midcap 100 index declined 1.14 per cent, and the Nifty Smallcap index closed 0.9 per cent lower.
Meanwhile, the rupee traded weak, slipping below the 91.60 mark against the US dollar. Currency markets were impacted by geopolitical tensions involving Europe and Greenland, concerns over potential US tariff actions, and the absence of a confirmed India–US trade agreement. Rising bullion prices also added pressure by increasing the import bill.
Analysts expect the rupee to remain volatile in the near term amid ongoing global uncertainty.
-IANS
