Indian equities ended lower on Tuesday, with Nifty 50 declining 118 points, or 0.49%, to close at 23,913.70 after witnessing sustained selling pressure through the second half of the session. Sensex also traded weak amid profit-booking in heavyweight financial and consumer stocks. However, market breadth remained broadly balanced, with 1,655 stocks advancing against 1,652 stocks declining, indicating selective buying interest beneath the headline weakness. On the sectoral front, Metals outperformed, with Nifty Metal rising more than 1%, supported by strength in commodity-linked counters, while FMCG and Auto stocks showed resilience. On the downside, private banks, financial services, realty, and consumer durables weighed on sentiment, reflecting caution ahead of key domestic and global macro triggers. Nifty IT remained largely flat as investors awaited further cues from global technology markets.
