Why Did Sensex and Nifty Start Lower Today?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sensex down by 208 points; Nifty down by 54 points.
- Midcap and smallcap stocks show resilience.
- Major gains in sectors like auto and PSU banks.
- Market volatility prompts cautious trading strategies.
- FIIs net buyers of Rs 931 crore on May 14.
Mumbai, May 15 (NationPress) The Indian stock indices started the day in negative territory on Thursday due to selling pressure among key stocks, including Power Grid, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Sun Pharma.
At 9:26 am, the Sensex decreased by 208 points, or 0.26 percent, settling at 81,122, while the Nifty dropped by 54 points, or 0.22 percent, to reach 24,612.
However, there was noticeable buying activity in midcap and smallcap stocks. The Nifty midcap 100 index rose by 169 points, or 0.30 percent, to 56,306, and the Nifty smallcap 100 index gained 96 points, or 0.56 percent, to 17,243.
On the sectoral front, the auto, PSU Bank, metal, media, infrastructure, and commodities sectors saw significant gains. Conversely, the IT, FMCG, real estate, and energy sectors faced notable declines.
Hardik Matalia from Choice Broking commented, "If the index holds above the 24,700 mark, it could advance towards the 24,850–25,000 range. Conversely, immediate support levels are identified at 24,500 and 24,350, which may present attractive entry points for long positions."
In the Sensex roster, Adani Ports, Tata Motors, Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra, Tata Steel, UltraTech Cement, and Bajaj Finance emerged as major gainers. In contrast, Power Grid, IndusInd Bank, Sun Pharma, Infosys, Zomato, and Axis Bank were among the primary losers.
Matalia further advised, "Given the current landscape of market uncertainty and increased volatility, traders should consider adopting a cautious 'wait and watch' strategy, particularly with high-leverage positions."
Most Asian markets also traded in the red, with Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Seoul experiencing significant losses, while Jakarta showed positive performance.
Meanwhile, the US markets closed with mixed results on Wednesday, where the Dow Jones fell by 0.21 percent, while the technology index Nasdaq increased by 0.72 percent.
Regarding institutional activities, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 931 crore on May 14, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) acquired equities amounting to Rs 316 crore.