Why Did Sensex and Nifty Experience a Decline?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sensex and Nifty ended lower, breaking a two-day winning streak.
- Concerns over US-China trade relations impacted investor sentiment.
- Profit booking in consumption and discretionary sectors was noted.
- The Nifty held above the critical 25,000 support level.
- Mixed performance in broader market indices was observed.
Mumbai, Oct 13 (NationPress) The Indian stock markets concluded the trading session on a negative note on Monday, ending a two-day upward trend, as weaker global signals impacted investor confidence.
At the end of the trading day, the Sensex decreased by 173.77 points, or 0.21 percent, to 82,327.05, while the Nifty dropped 58 points, or 0.23 percent, to 25,227.35.
According to market analysts, as long as the Nifty holds above the critical 25,000 support level, the uptrend remains intact, and a move towards 25,500 resistance seems feasible.
This downturn followed comments from US President Donald Trump regarding potential restrictive tariffs on China, which raised concerns about a potential resurgence of the US-China trade conflict.
Even though Trump moderated his rhetoric by Sunday, investor caution persisted.
Notable decliners on the Sensex included Tata Motors, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), and Power Grid, which contributed to the index's decline.
Conversely, Adani Ports, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, and Axis Bank managed to secure gains, mitigating the overall decline.
Sector-wise, selling pressure was evident in the IT and FMCG sectors, with the Nifty IT index falling 0.78 percent and the Nifty FMCG index down 0.9 percent.
However, the Nifty Financial Services sector defied the trend, finishing up 0.35 percent.
In the broader market, the performance was mixed, with the Nifty MidCap 100 index closing up 0.11 percent, while the Nifty SmallCap 100 index dipped 0.17 percent.
Analysts predict that the market may experience volatility in the short term as global trade tensions and geopolitical events continue to shape investor sentiment.
The domestic markets commenced the week with a cautious approach due to the ongoing US government shutdown and escalating tensions in US-China trade, leading to a risk-averse atmosphere across Asia, according to analysts.
Profit-taking in consumption and discretionary sectors following recent gains indicated a tactical shift in investor behavior.
While a slight recovery in the INR and easing inflation expectations provided some support against losses, overall sentiment remained cautious, keeping the markets in a slight negative territory, experts noted.