Market Closing Bell: Sensex Falls 511 Points, Nifty Slips Below 25,000 as IT Stocks Drag
Sensex drops 511 points while Nifty closes below the 25,000 mark, dragged down by weak IT stocks and global cues. Check today’s key market highlights and sector performance.
Sensex drops 511 points as IT stocks pull markets lower; Nifty ends below 25,000.
Mumbai – Benchmark indices ended Monday’s trading session in the red as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East rattled investor sentiment. The conflict intensified after reports confirmed U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in the ongoing Iran-Israel standoff, sparking fresh concerns over global economic stability.
The BSE Sensex declined by 511.38 points or 0.62%, closing at 82,408.17. Earlier in the day, it touched an intraday low of 81,476.76. Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty shed 140.50 points, slipping below the critical 25,000 level, and settled at 24,971.90.
📉 Top Gainers & Losers
Among the Sensex 30, stocks like Trent, Bharat Electronics, Bajaj Finance, Kotak Bank, and Bajaj Finserv posted gains. Trent led the pack, jumping 3.61%, while Bharat Electronics hit a new 52-week high amid strong buying in the defense sector.
However, major tech and auto counters dragged the indices. Infosys was the biggest laggard, slipping 2.29%, followed by Larsen & Toubro, HCL Tech, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Hindustan Unilever.
📊 Sectoral Highlights
Despite the overall negative market sentiment, defensive sectors like Media and Defence outperformed, gaining nearly 4% and 2%, respectively. Investors shifted their focus to these relatively safer bets amidst heightened volatility.
💬 Expert Insights
"The market decline was primarily driven by heightened tensions in the Middle East, worsened by the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. This has created widespread fear over global economic disruption and dampened risk appetite," said Vaibhav Vidwani, Research Analyst at Bonanza.
💼 FII & DII Activity
According to stock exchange data:
- Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers, pumping in ₹7,940.70 crore on Thursday.
- Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), on the other hand, booked profits worth ₹3,049.88 crore, adding pressure on the markets.
