The BSE Sensex in India recorded a slight decline, closing at 84,961 on Wednesday. This marked the third consecutive session of losses, primarily influenced by ongoing geopolitical tensions and concerns regarding tariffs. These factors contributed to foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows and muted the positive sentiment surrounding corporate earnings prospects.
Cyclical sectors such as automobiles, metals, and infrastructure experienced selling pressure, and banking stocks exhibited minor weakness due to profit-booking following recent advancements. Conversely, information technology stocks showed an upward trend in anticipation of upcoming quarterly earnings, while defensive stocks in the FMCG and healthcare sectors remained relatively stable.
In terms of individual stock performance, Maruti experienced the largest decline, falling by 2.8%. Other notable losses included TMPV, Power Grid, Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints, Tata Steel, and HDFC Bank, with declines ranging from 1.2% to 1.7%. On the positive side, Titan surged nearly 4% to reach an all-time high, buoyed by a robust 41% year-on-year growth in its jewellery division for Q3 FY26, driven by strong demand during the festive season.
