CHENNAI: The Indian stock market closed lower on Friday, breaking a six-day winning streak. The BSE Sensex ended around 84,200 points, down approximately 344 points, while the Nifty 50 slipped to 25,795, down nearly 96 points. Markets had opened flat, but profit-booking and cautious sentiment gradually pushed indices into negative territory.
Investors were taking profits after a strong run of gains, while global cues and concerns over the timing of a potential US-India trade deal weighed on sentiment. Rising crude prices, driven by supply uncertainties, added to cautious trading, along with hints of restrained foreign portfolio inflows.
Sector performance was mixed. Metal stocks, supported by firm global commodity prices, managed to hold up, while FMCG, pharma, and private banks faced selling pressure. Hindustan Unilever, Cipla, and Max Healthcare were among the top decliners, while select metal and infrastructure stocks showed resilience. Mid- and small-cap indices also ended lower, reflecting a broad market pause.
Although the decline was modest, it marked a pause in momentum rather than a reversal. The market is expected to remain sensitive to global developments, domestic earnings, and commodity movements in the coming days. Investors are rotating into metals and infrastructure, while defensive sectors are seeing reduced exposure.