Stock Market Today: Sensex, Nifty Trade Flat Amid Volatility; Metals Shine

Indian benchmark indices Nifty 50 and Sensex opened on a subdued note on Wednesday morning, easing slightly as investors paused following a strong rally earlier in the month. As of 9:30 am, the Sensex was down 71.11 points (0.09 per cent) at 80,217.27, while the Nifty slipped 15.15 points (0.06 per cent) to 24,320.80. Market breadth remained weak, with 836 stocks advancing, 1,671 declining, and 106 remaining unchanged.

Broader Market Update

Broader markets lagged, with the Nifty Midcap 100 down 0.2 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap index shedding over 0.5 per cent, reflecting pressure in the broader space.

Sectorial Update

Sector-wise, performance was mixed. The Nifty Auto and PSU Bank indices were the biggest drags, each falling over 1.4 per cent in early trade. In contrast, FMCG, IT, and pharma stocks provided some support, trading in the green.

Meanwhile, market volatility edged higher, with the India VIX—the fear gauge—rising 2 per cent to 17.73, signaling heightened uncertainty and investor caution.

VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments, noted, "The surprising resilience of the market is significant. After the reciprocal tariff tantrums and the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Nifty is up 5 per cent in April. This underscores the importance of not panicking during a crisis. It is important to remain invested. The crucial support to the market is coming from the sustained FII inflows which have touched a cumulative figure of Rs 37325 crores in the last 10 trading sessions. The weakness of the dollar and India’s economic resilience are supporting this FII’s India trade. This can continue.

"However, investors should exercise caution. Since markets have rewarded patience and many stocks have appreciated handsomely, investors can do partial profit booking and increase the cash component in their portfolio. This strategy should be as a measure of abundant caution," he added.

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Global Market Update

Overnight, Wall Street ended higher as investors weighed corporate earnings, signs of progress in US President Donald Trump's tariff negotiations, and rising concerns over a potential global recession. Despite the mixed backdrop, all three major US indices posted modest gains, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average leading the charge.

The Dow rose 0.75 per cent, the S&P 500 gained 0.58 per cent, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.55 per cent.

In Asia, markets followed Wall Street’s positive momentum, with the S&P 500 marking its sixth straight day of gains amid optimism that companies can withstand slowing economic growth and trade-related disruptions. Japan’s Nikkei, Taiwan’s benchmark index, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng all traded higher, while South Korea’s Kospi lagged, slipping 0.5 per cent.

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