BIZ DESK
Domestic equity markets ended the week on a weak note, as the benchmark Sensex and Nifty closed lower for the sixth consecutive session on Friday, dragged by broad-based selling across sectors amid global trade jitters.
The BSE Sensex dropped 733 points, or 0.9%, to close at 80,426, while the NSE Nifty50 fell 236 points, or 0.95%, to 24,655. Both indices had opened in the red and extended losses through the session.
The broader market bore sharper pain. The BSE MidCap index slipped nearly 2%, while the SmallCap index tumbled more than 2%, reflecting risk-off sentiment among retail and institutional investors alike.
Sectoral Snapshot
Sector-wise, losses were widespread, with Nifty IT leading the fall, down 2.5%, as weak global cues and tariff-related concerns weighed on technology exporters. Nifty Consumer Durables fell 2.3%, pressured by demand concerns, while Nifty Pharma shed 1.8% after U.S. President Donald Trump announced steep import tariffs on branded pharmaceutical products.
Nifty Metal lost 1.5%, tracking weakness in global commodity markets. Auto and banking stocks showed relative resilience, with Nifty Auto slipping just 0.5% and Nifty Bank down 0.6%, supported by gains in Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, and select private lenders. Notably, L&T, ITC, Reliance Industries, and Maruti Suzuki emerged as pockets of strength, preventing a deeper fall in the benchmarks.
Currency Check
In the foreign exchange market, the rupee depreciated by five paise to close at 88.71 per U.S. dollar, pressured by persistent foreign fund outflows and a stronger greenback overseas.
Analysts noted that heightened global trade tensions and persistent FII selling have kept domestic equities under pressure. With the indices logging a six-session losing streak, traders are expected to stay cautious ahead of next week’s macroeconomic data releases and global central bank signals.