Nifty50 ends at record 25,940 after crossing 26,000 for first time; Sensex slips 15 pts

Share Market News, Sensex Today, Nifty50 Today: Domestic equity benchmarks ended a session that started on a strong note largely flat on Tuesday, as selling pressure in financial stocks offset buying interest in IT and metal shares. Nonetheless, the Nifty50 registered a record closing high, even as it gave back much of its intraday gains after crossing the psychologically significant 26,000 mark for the first time ever during the session. 

Here are key things to know about Tuesday's trading session: 

• At the end of the day, the Nifty50 stood 1.4 point stronger at a record 25,940.4 while the leaner, 30-scrip gauge settled at 84,914, down 14.6 points from its previous close. 

• Tata Steel, Hindalco, Power Grid, Tech Mahindra, HCLTech, ONGC, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Bajaj Auto, closing between 0.8 per cent and 4.3 per cent higher, were among the top gainers in the Nifty50 basket. 

• On the other hand, SBI Life, HUL, Grasim, UltraTech, Shriram Finance, IndusInd Bank, and Cipla, closing between 1.2 per cent and 2.8 per cent lower, were the worst hit among the 25 losers in the pack. 

• Among heavyweights, HUL, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank, and Reliance weighed on both main gauges, although stocks like HDFC Bank and Tata Steel lent some support.

ALSO READ: Nifty touches 26,000 for first time ever! Take a look at key milestones from its 54-day journey from 25,000

• The Nifty Bank—whose 12 constituents include some of the top banks in the country—took a breather after surging nearly 3,100 points, or more than 6.0 per cent, over eight consecutive days of gains. Selling pressure in Kotak Mahindra Bank and Punjab National Bank (PNB) shares weighed on the banking index, causing it to settle with a loss of 137.2 points, or a quarter percentage point, at 53,968.6.   
• Bharti Airtel was left with a gain of 0.4 per cent at Rs 1,757.3 after soaring as much as 5.3 per cent to clock an all-time high of Rs 1,767 apiece during the session amid sustained momentum in the telecom space.  
• Analysts say steady institutional inflows amid positive global cues continue to support buying amid a bright domestic outlook, although bouts of intermittent profit-taking cannot be ruled out.
• Last week's announcement of a bigger-than-expected rate cut by the Fed has rekindled hopes of lower-for-longer interest rates in the coming months, driving the gains across markets. 
• Midcap and smallcap stocks staged mixed moves, reflected in a 0.2 per cent rise in Nifty Midcap 100 and a 0.6 per cent fall in Nifty Smallcap 100. 
• Overall market breadth was largely neutral, with a negative bias, as almost an equal number of shares tarded on each side of the flatline on BSE.  

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