Sensex Falls 304 Points, Nifty Ends Lower as IT Stocks Drag Markets Down

Indian equity markets ended in negative territory after another volatile trading session, as rising crude oil prices and uncertainty surrounding a potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran dampened investor sentiment.

The benchmark Nifty 50 slipped below the 23,200 mark during intraday trading and touched a low of 23,151.50 before recovering some of its losses later in the session. Buying interest in automobile and banking stocks helped the market trim part of its decline.

At the closing bell, the BSE Sensex fell 303.67 points to settle at 74,346.17, while the Nifty declined 77.95 points to close at 23,405.60.

The broader market also remained under pressure. The Nifty Midcap 100 index declined 0.4%, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index slipped 0.1%.

IT Stocks Lead the Market Decline

Technology stocks witnessed heavy selling pressure during the session. Major losers on the Sensex included:

• Tata Consultancy Services – down 8.43%
• Tech Mahindra – down 6.23%
• HCL Technologies – down 5.25%
• Infosys – down 3.82%

Other major laggards included ITC Limited, Larsen & Toubro, and Bajaj Finance.

Stocks That Gained

Despite the overall weakness, several stocks ended higher, including:

• InterGlobe Aviation
• State Bank of India
• ICICI Bank
• Trent Limited

Healthcare stocks also attracted buying interest, with gains seen in Apollo Hospitals Enterprise and Max Healthcare Institute.

Sector Performance

Sector-wise performance was mixed:

Major Losers

• IT Index: -5.5%
• FMCG Index: -1%
• Realty Index: -1%
• Consumer Durables Index: -0.8%

Major Gainers

• Telecom Index: +2%
• PSU Bank Index: +1.7%
• Healthcare Index: +0.5%

52-Week High Performers

More than 100 stocks touched their 52-week highs on the BSE, including:

• Vodafone Idea
• Federal Bank
• Chennai Petroleum Corporation
• Jammu & Kashmir Bank

Among individual stocks, John Cockerill India surged 20% and hit a 52-week high after securing a new order worth approximately ₹1,250–1,300 crore.

Meanwhile, AdvaIT Energy Transitions gained 5% after signing a battery energy storage procurement agreement with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited.

Foreign Investors Continue Selling

According to exchange data, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth ₹8,362.92 crore in the previous trading session, adding pressure to the markets.

Meanwhile, global Brent crude oil prices climbed nearly 3% to $98.92 per barrel, raising concerns about inflation, import costs, and the broader economic outlook.

Market participants are expected to closely monitor crude oil prices, global geopolitical developments, and foreign fund flows for cues on the market's next direction.