14 October,2026 04:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representational Image. File pic.
The domestic equity benchmark indices declined on Wednesday amid profit booking, elevated crude oil prices and rising inflation. India's WPI inflation rose to 11.39 per cent in September, reviving concerns over further rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 251.89 points or 0.34 per cent to end at 72,781.89. The 50-share Nifty slipped 99.25 points or 0.44 per cent to settle at 22,622.70.
"Benchmark indices witnessed a volatile session, with profit booking emerging, as investors turned cautious ahead of key US inflation data. Sentiment received some support from easing intraday Brent crude oil prices and rupee appreciation, although these factors were insufficient to sustain the recovery," Pabitro Mukherjee, Deputy Vice President Research, Bajaj Broking said.
According to Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments, "A hotter-than-expected domestic WPI print pushed bond yields higher, reviving concerns over a tighter monetary policy trajectory and weighing on automobiles, private banks and metals."
From the 30 Sensex constituents, only 11 ended higher. IT stocks continued to gain and Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) were the major gainers. Hindustan Unilever, NTPC and Reliance Industries were also among the major gainers. Bajaj Finance, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Finserv, Eternal, and ICICI Bank were among the major laggards.
"Among the sectors, the Energy index gained the most, rallying nearly 1.5 percent, while the Pharma and Healthcare indices shed over 1 per cent," Shrikant Chouhan, Head Equity Research, Kotak Neo said.
On Tuesday the Sensex soared 1,109.10 points, or 1.54 per cent, to settle at 73,033.78, while the Nifty surged 358.60 points, or 1.60 per cent, to end at 22,721.95.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was up 0.36 per cent to USD 106.1 per barrel, according to news agency PTI.
"Brent crude remained above USD 106 per barrel, keeping supply-side and inflation concerns elevated," Siddhartha Khemka Head of Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net sellers and offloaded equities worth Rs 1,305.13 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were net buyers and purchased equities worth Rs 2,439.24 on Tuesday, according to exchange data.
In Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi, Japan's 225 index, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hang Seng index all ended lower.
(With inputs from PTI)
