Synopsis : Indian markets traded flat and directionless on Tuesday, weighed down by weakness in IT and FMCG stocks ahead of the November F&O expiry.
However, pockets of strength emerged in realty and metal stocks, helping limit broader losses.
Equity benchmark indices remained subdued on Tuesday as traders stayed cautious ahead of the monthly expiry of Nifty F&O contracts for the November series. With no major domestic or global triggers driving sentiment, markets moved in a narrow range throughout the early session.
At 10 AM, the BSE Sensex was at 85,011, up 110 points (0.13%), while the Nifty50 hovered at 25,999, up 39 points (0.15%). Despite the mild positive opening, overall momentum remained weak.
IT, FMCG Lead the Decline
Several heavyweight names dragged the indices lower, with IT and FMCG sectors under pressure:
Infosys, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, and HUL were among the top losers.
Additional weakness came from Power Grid, M&M, Sun Pharma, NTPC, ICICI Bank, Tata Motors PV, and Adani Ports, falling up to 0.9%.
Realty & Metal Stocks Defy Market Mood
Contrary to the sluggish broader market, the Nifty Realty and Nifty Metal indices displayed strong buying interest:
Nifty Realty surged 1%, the top-performing sector of the day.
Nifty Metal followed closely with a 0.9% gain.
Market participants attributed the strength to improved demand outlook, selective institutional buying, and sector rotation trends.
Top gainers included:
BEL, Tata Steel, SBI, Axis Bank, Eternal, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finserv, and Reliance Industries.
Mid- & Small-Cap Indices Hold Firm
Broader markets showed marginal improvement:
Nifty MidCap rose 0.24%
Nifty SmallCap added 0.08%
Market breadth remained balanced, reflecting cautious participation ahead of expiry.
Sector Snapshot
Top Gainers:
Nifty Realty (+1%)
Nifty Metal (+0.9%)
Top Losers:
Nifty IT (–0.4%)
Nifty FMCG (–0.4%)
Nifty Auto (–0.16%)
Although the benchmarks were muted, sectoral rotation and stock-specific actions continued to offer opportunities for traders.
Disclaimer : This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Markets involve risk; please consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
