Indian stock markets ended lower on Monday, March 10, 2025, as fag-end selling in blue-chip stocks dragged the benchmarks into negative territory. The BSE Sensex declined 150.46 points, or 0.20 percent, to close at 74,115.16, while the Nifty50 fell 48.75 points, or 0.22 percent, to settle at 22,460.30.
Market Performance
The broader market indices also witnessed selling pressure, with the BSE Midcap index slipping 0.3 percent and the BSE Smallcap index losing 0.5 percent. Sectorally, the Nifty Bank index dropped 0.4 percent, while Nifty IT and Nifty Auto indices ended flat. On the other hand, Nifty Pharma and Nifty Healthcare indices managed to close in the green, gaining 0.5 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.
Key Movers
Among the blue-chip stocks, the top losers on the BSE Sensex were Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, and Titan, which fell 1.5 percent, 1.2 percent, and 1.1 percent, respectively. On the gaining side, Hindustan Unilever, Nestle India, and Sun Pharma advanced 0.8 percent, 0.7 percent, and 0.6 percent, respectively.
Broader Market Sentiment
Market breadth was negative, with 1,420 stocks advancing and 2,045 stocks declining on the BSE. The volatility index, India VIX, rose 2.5 percent to 14.85, indicating increased uncertainty among traders.
Reasons for the Decline
Analysts attributed the sell-off to profit-taking in recent gainers and global cues. Weakness in Asian markets, with the Hang Seng and Nikkei 225 falling 0.8 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively, also weighed on sentiment. Additionally, concerns over rising crude oil prices and the strengthening dollar index added to the cautious mood.
Outlook
Market participants are now awaiting domestic inflation data and US Federal Reserve policy decisions later this week for further direction. The Nifty50 is expected to find support at the 22,300 level, while resistance is seen at 22,700.
