MUMBAI– The Indian stock market closed flat on Monday, as investor sentiment remained subdued amid continued uncertainty over the interim India–U.S. trade agreement.
The BSE Sensex edged up just 9.61 points, or 0.01 percent, to end at 83,409.68. The 30-share index opened slightly lower at 83,398.08, compared to the previous close of 83,432.89. Throughout the day, it remained largely range-bound, reaching an intraday high of 83,516.83—up 84 points at its peak.
Similarly, the NSE Nifty closed nearly unchanged, settling at 25,461.30, up just 0.30 points.
From the Sensex pack, gainers included Hindustan Unilever, Adani Ports, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Asian Paints, ITC, Power Grid, NTPC, Bharti Airtel, and Sun Pharma. On the downside, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance, Larsen & Toubro, TCS, SBI, and Infosys ended in the red.
Across the Nifty50 index, 22 stocks advanced while 28 declined.
“Market participants appeared reluctant to take aggressive positions, keeping the broader index range-bound,” said Sundar Kewat of Ashika Institutional Equity. Analysts noted that investors were awaiting clarity on U.S. tariff decisions before taking significant positions.
Sector-wise, buying interest was seen in consumer goods, oil and gas, consumption, and real estate stocks. However, there was profit-booking in media, metals, IT, and automobile sectors, which weighed on the broader market.
The majority of broader indices closed in the red. The Nifty Midcap 100 declined by 0.27 percent (162 points), while the Nifty Smallcap 100 slipped by 0.44 percent (82.90 points). However, the Nifty FMCG and Nifty 100 indices posted gains.
Meanwhile, the Indian rupee weakened by 47 paise, or 0.56 percent, to close at 85.87 against the U.S. dollar. Analysts attributed the decline to renewed strength in the dollar and lingering uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policies.
With the 90-day tariff extension period nearing its end and no final agreements signed, investor sentiment has turned cautious. All eyes are now on the upcoming release of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes, which could influence future dollar movement and global market direction. (Source: IANS)
