Indian equity benchmark indices ended Thursday's session on a downbeat note amid broad-based selling pressure across front-line counters. The BSE Sensex slid 460.30 points or 0.62% to settle at 73,249.39, while the NSE Nifty 50 declined by 123.70 points or 0.54% to close at 22,687.65.
Sectorally, the Nifty IT, Banking, and Financial Services indices were the chief laggards, with heavyweights like HDFC Bank, Infosys, and ICICI Bank dragging the benchmarks lower. On the flip side, defensive sectors provided modest support, with Nifty FMCG and Nifty Pharma ticking higher, bolstered by steady accumulation in ITC and Sun Pharma. The broader market also saw minor profit booking, though midcap indices showed relative resilience.
Macro headwinds continued to weigh on investor sentiment. Elevated US Treasury yields and firm Brent crude prices hovering above $85 per barrel kept market participants cautious. Additionally, sustained net capital outflows by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) exerted downward pressure on the Indian Rupee, even as Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) offered targeted value buying at lower levels.