Last Updated on February 5, 2026 11:35 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
BIZ DESK
Indian equity markets closed lower on Thursday as investors turned cautious following a volatile rally earlier in the week. Profit-booking was visible across sectors, with metal stocks and small-cap counters witnessing sharp selling pressure. The mood remained subdued due to the absence of fresh domestic triggers, while traders also stayed on the sidelines ahead of the Reserve Bank of India’s policy decision scheduled for Friday.
The BSE Sensex ended at 83,313.93, falling 503.76 points (0.60%), while the NSE Nifty declined 133.20 points (0.52%) to close at 25,642.80. Market breadth remained negative, with 2,447 stocks declining against 1,737 advances on the BSE, reflecting broad-based selling.
The Nifty Smallcap 100 was the worst performer, plunging 1.29% to 16,983.90, sharply underperforming the benchmark indices. The Nifty Midcap 100 also ended in the red, down 0.28% at 59,517.10. Analysts noted that the market traded in a narrow range, signalling a wait-and-watch stance.
On the sectoral front, Nifty Metal led the losses, while Consumer Durables also saw notable weakness. Banking and financial stocks remained under pressure, with Nifty Bank slipping 0.29% and Nifty Financial Services falling 0.41%.
Among Nifty50 gainers, Trent rose nearly 3%, while Max Healthcare gained over 1%. Select metal counters such as Tata Steel and JSW Steel also ended higher despite overall weakness in the sector. On the losing side, Hindalco fell 3%, while Bharti Airtel, BEL, and ITC also declined.
Meanwhile, the rupee strengthened against the US dollar, trading near 90.30, supported by softer commodity prices and dollar weakness. In commodities, gold and silver remained volatile, while WTI crude fell over 2% below $64 per barrel after fresh developments in US-Iran talks.
Investors now await RBI’s policy cues, particularly on liquidity measures and stance, which could guide near-term market direction.
Sector-wise Market Snapshot
- Metals: Weak overall; Hindalco dragged sector
- Small-caps: Biggest hit; heavy profit-booking
- Mid-caps: Mild decline, better resilience than small-caps
- Banking & Financials: Slightly negative, cautious sentiment
- Consumer Durables: Sharp selling pressure
- Pharma/Healthcare: Some support seen (Max Healthcare gained)
- FMCG: Soft; ITC declined
- Telecom: Weak; Bharti Airtel among top losers
- Currency: Rupee stronger on softer commodities
- Crude Oil: Down sharply, easing inflation concerns
