Closing Bell: Market slips for 4th session in row; Sensex down 152 points, Nifty below 15700 – Metal, FMCG & IT drag most

The Indian markets for the fourth straight session closed negatively on Wednesday as Sensex slipped over 150 points and Nifty50 settled below the 15700-level. Amid high volatility, the benchmarks were mainly dragged by Metal, FMCG and IT stocks at the market close. 

At the market close, the BSE Sensex was down 152 points or 0.29 per cent to 52541, while Nifty50 down nearly 40 points or 0.25 per cent to 15692. While the broader markets outperformed the frontline indices, as mid-cap gained by 0.35 per cent and small-cap up by 0.6 per cent at the close.

The markets traded nervously ahead of the US Fed meet outcome. While strength was seen in the morning, selling pressure in the second half dragged the indices lower, Ajit Mishra, VP - Research, Religare Broking Ltd said in his post market comment on Wednesday.

Of 50 scrips on Nifty, 26 advanced and 24 declined at the market close. Bajaj Finserv became top gainer, up over 4 per cent, followed by Tata Motors up over 2 per cent, While Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Finance, and Grasim each surged around 2 per cent at the market close.

Conversely, public sector companies such as ONGC and NTPC were the top losers, each down over 2.5 and 2 per cent, followed by Infosys, Wipro, Coal India and Reliance Industries each down over 1 per cent at the market close today.

Majority of the sectoral indices concluded their session in the red, with Nifty Metal declining most by over 0.7 per cent, followed by Nifty IT and FMCG each down nearly 0.5 per cent. On the contrary, Nifty Auto and Finance aided markets from further fall, as up nearly 1 and 0.3 per cent respectively.