Stock market today: Benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex slipped in the red on Monday, December 18, after rallying to record highs for most of this month as high-weightage banks and financial and information technology (IT) stocks took a breather. The Nifty50 lost 0.18 per cent, or 38 points, to end at 21,418.65, while the Sensex finished 0.24 per cent, or 168.66 points, lower at 71,315.09. The heavy-weight bank index—Nifty Bank—lost 0.57 per cent or 275.85 points, to end at 47,867.7.

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Nifty IT closed 100 points, or 0.27 per cent, at 35,685.55, dragged by Tech Mahindra, Persistent Systems, Infosys, and other stocks. In the broader market, the Nifty MidCap 100 and the Nifty SmallCap 100 finished with gains of 0.22 per cent and 0.56 per cent, respectively.

Power Grid, ITC, Tech Mahindra, and ICICI Bank were among the top losers in the Nifty basket, down around 2-1 per cent. On the other hand, Bajaj Auto, Hindalco, Sun Pharma, and Adani Ports were among the top gainers, trading with gains of around 1–3 per cent.

"The market started on a subdued note as concerns over oil supply disruptions through the Red Sea and elevated valuations dented investor sentiment. On the global front, attention will be directed towards BOJ monetary policy and UK inflation data, Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services said.

"We expect a near-term consolidation in the market due to an unfavourable risk-reward after the recent rapid performance, concerns over El Nino, and a slowdown in world GDP," Nair added.

Global Market

European shares slipped in the trade owing to a decline in real estate stocks, while sentiment also took a hit after major central bank officials talked down the prospects of nearing interest rate cuts.

The pan-European STOXX 600 shed 0.3 per cent by 08:11 GMT after its fifth straight weekly gain on Friday, its longest streak since April. Real estate stocks dropped 0.9 per cent, while telecoms rose 0.3 per cent, led by a 4.3 per cent rise in Vodafone (VOD.L) on Iliad's proposal to merge their Italian businesses.

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