Stock market ends flat as Sensex slips 114, Nifty stays above 24,300

Benchmark stock market indices ended little changed on Wednesday, with the Sensex closing lower by 114 points while the Nifty managed to hold above the 24,300 mark amid cautious investor sentiment.

The BSE Sensex settled at 77,844.52, down 114 points or 0.15%. The NSE Nifty50 ended at 24,326.65, lower by 4.30 points or 0.02%.Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said, "Domestic equities swung between gains and losses amid mixed global cues, even as the rupee strengthened. Selective risk appetite was evident in pockets of the market, with mid and small caps outperforming large caps."

The muted closing indicates that traders are still weighing concerns around global growth, interest rate expectations and corporate earnings momentum, while selective buying in heavyweight stocks helped limit sharper declines.

"Reports of a potential US–Iran agreement to gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz pushed crude below $100 per barrel, easing near-term inflation concerns. However, optimism faded quickly amid uncertainty around nuclear enrichment discussions, triggering profit booking," Nair said.

"Sectorally, auto, healthcare, and financial services witnessed gains, while IT and FMCG declined. Going ahead, Q4 earnings and management guidance will remain key drivers of sentiment, though markets are likely to stay volatile until clearer signals emerge from West Asia," he added.

Despite the subdued headline indices, stock-specific action continued across sectors, with investors focusing on earnings reactions and company-specific developments.

The broader market trend remained mixed during the session, reflecting caution after recent volatility in benchmark indices.