Market Slips for Fourth Consecutive Day
Benchmark indices continued their downward trend on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, as investors booked profits in banking, auto, and capital goods shares. The BSE Sensex fell 386.47 points, or 0.47%, to close at 81,715.63, while the NSE Nifty ended 112.60 points lower at 25,056.90. This marks the fourth straight day of declines, with both indices losing over 1.4% in this period.
Key Factors Behind the Decline
Analysts point to a mix of domestic and global triggers weighing on investor sentiment. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold equities worth ₹3,551.19 crore on September 23, a major drag on the markets. Concerns about higher H-1B visa fees and weaker IT sector outlook further dampened buying interest. Additionally, a softer Rupee, firm crude oil prices, and lingering global uncertainties added to the cautious tone.
Sectoral Performance
Losses were widespread across key sectors. Realty stocks bore the steepest fall at 2.47%, followed by utilities, capital goods, services, power, and auto, each shedding over 1%. FMCG was the lone bright spot, ending in positive territory as investors sought safer bets amid market volatility. Midcap and small-cap indices also mirrored the weakness, dropping 0.85% and 0.50% respectively.
Major Movers on the Sensex
Among the laggards were Tata Motors, Bharat Electronics, UltraTech Cement, Tech Mahindra, Mahindra & Mahindra, ICICI Bank, TCS, and Axis Bank. On the upside, Power Grid, Hindustan Unilever, NTPC, and HCL Tech provided some relief with modest gains.
Global Market Influence
Indian equities also tracked mixed global cues. While South Korea’s Kospi ended lower, indices in Japan, China, and Hong Kong registered gains. European markets opened weaker, and U.S. equities had closed in the red on September 23, further shaping a risk-off sentiment in emerging markets like India.
Currency and Commodity Watch
The Rupee recovered from early weakness to end flat at 88.72 against the U.S. dollar after hitting an intraday low of 88.80. Meanwhile, Brent crude prices edged higher by 0.44% to settle at $67.93 per barrel, adding pressure on India’s inflationary outlook.
Outlook Ahead
With quarterly earnings season around the corner and global economic uncertainties lingering, analysts expect markets to remain volatile. Investors are likely to stay cautious, recalibrating portfolios while keeping an eye on foreign flows, crude price movements, and U.S. policy developments.