Indian equity benchmarks ended the day on a cautious note as global trade tensions weighed on investor sentiment. The Nifty 50 closed around 25,461, while the Sensex remained largely flat, reflecting a wait-and-watch mood across Dalal Street.
Uncertainty deepened after mixed messages from U.S. policymakers raised doubts over the timeline of upcoming tariff actions. This, coupled with a surprise increase in oil output by OPEC+, pushed crude prices lower and added to the volatility.
In sectoral trends, FMCG stocks outperformed, offering some stability as investors sought defensive bets. On the downside, the Nifty IT and auto indices dragged, mirroring pressure from global macros and stock-specific corrections.
From the Sensex pack, Bharat Electronics, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, Eicher Motors, and Maruti were among the top laggards. On the flip side, Trent, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finserv, Reliance Industries, and HDFC Bank provided some support, ending in the green.
As traders look ahead to key macro data and corporate earnings later this week, markets may remain range-bound with a bias toward quality names in the FMCG, banking, and energy segments.
 More to come…
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