Indian equity markets ended lower on Friday after a choppy and highly volatile trading session, breaking their two-day winning streak. Weak global cues, profit-booking in broader markets, and uncertainty surrounding the ongoing US–India trade discussions kept investors on edge.
The S&P BSE Sensex dropped over 400 points to close at 85,231, while the NSE Nifty50 managed to hold above the crucial 26,000 level despite widespread sectoral pressure.
Volatility surged sharply through the day, pushing mid-cap and small-cap stocks deeper into the red as traders locked in gains following the recent rebound.
Metal and financial stocks were among the biggest drags, with JSW Steel, Hindalco, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance, and HCLTech ranking among the major losers. Broader NSE constituents such as Maruti, Tata Consumer Products, Max Healthcare, IndiGo, and M&M also slipped notably.
Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said the market mirrored the weakness in Asian peers.
“Better-than-expected US non-farm payroll data has cooled expectations of a December Fed rate cut, triggering volatility across global markets,” he noted.
He added that soft domestic cues, including a weaker manufacturing PMI and continued pressure on the rupee, further dampened sentiment. Concerns over possible delays in US–India trade discussions also weighed on investor confidence.
Analysts expect markets to remain volatile in the coming days as traders await fresh global macroeconomic data and clarity on trade talks for direction.
