The SENSEX Index Closes 0.03% Lower

India's BSE Sensex swung between small gains and losses during Thursday's session, before closing virtually unchanged near a one-month low of 82,248.6. A sense of caution prevailed ahead of US–Iran nuclear talks, as well as key data releases, including US initial jobless claims and India’s GDP figures due on Friday. Weakness in heavyweight financials, coupled with selling pressure in consumer, power, and energy stocks, offset the ongoing recovery in the IT sector and gains in private banks and pharma. Among individual stocks, HDFC Bank declined 1.3%, while Bajaj Finserv (-0.9%), Axis Bank (-0.5%), and Bajaj Finance (-0.5%) also posted losses. Trent (-1.6%), Eternal (-1.3%), and Power Grid (-1%) were among the other top decliners. On the upside, Bharat Electronics outperformed with a 2.3% gain, Bharti Airtel advanced 1.1%, and State Bank of India added 0.8% after CLSA reiterated its “outperform” rating. TCS gained 0.7% as stronger-than-expected results from Nvidia eased AI concerns.

The SENSEX Index fell -27 points or 0.03 percent on Thursday to close at 82249 points. Leading the losses are HDFC Bank (-1.27%), Power Grid (-1.19%) and Asian Paints (-0.89%). Top gainers were Indusind Bank (3.00%), Tata Motors (2.93%) and Sun Pharmaceuticals (1.32%).

India’s BSE Sensex edged up about 0.2% to 82,456 in morning trade on Thursday, extending gains for a second consecutive session as most sectors, led by technology, showed early strength. Consumer durables, industrials, and financials also advanced, with early movers including KSB Ltd. (+6.8%), NewGen Software (+2.7%), Bank of Baroda (+2%), Canara Bank (+1.4%), and Infosys (+0.8%). Local equities mirrored Asia’s fourth straight day of gains, supported by robust US corporate results that eased concerns over AI-related disruptions. Market participants are also awaiting the release of India’s Q4 GDP growth on Friday, expected at 7.2%, down from 8.2% in the third quarter. Among early lossers were Home First Finance (-4.9%), Multi Commodity (-2.4%), Concord Biotech (-2.1%), and DEE Development (-1.6%). Elsewhere, US imposes preliminary duties on Indian solar imports over alleged subsidies, potentially weighing on solar-linked stocks, ruling expected on July.