Indian Stock Market Today: Sensex & Nifty 50 Range-Bound

The Indian stock market ended Monday, December 15, in a muted tone, snapping a two-day winning streak. Benchmark indices struggled amid mixed global cues, persistent foreign fund outflows, and a weakening rupee.

• Sensex: Closed 54 points lower at 85,213.36
• Nifty 50: Ended 20 points down at 26,027.30

While frontline indices hovered in the red, mid and small-cap segments showed relative strength, highlighting selective buying interest.

Mid & Small Caps Lead the Pack

Despite the subdued performance of the Sensex and the Nifty 50, broader market indicators held up well.

• BSE Midcap Index: Up 0.16%
• BSE Smallcap Index: Up 0.41%

The resilience in mid and small-cap stocks helped the total market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies remain stable at ₹470.4 lakh crore, unchanged from the previous session.

Market Drivers: Why the Indices Paused

The flat finish reflected a mix of domestic and global factors:

• Continued foreign capital outflows kept market sentiment cautious.
• The Indian rupee fell to an intraday record low of 90.75 against the US dollar.
• Uncertainty over the India–US trade deal added to investor caution.

Currency volatility and global market jitters kept the indices in a narrow trading range throughout the session.

Sector & Stock Highlights

Certain sectors and stocks bucked the broader trend, showing targeted strength:

• Top gainers in Nifty 50:
  • InterGlobe Aviation: +2.05%
  • Trent: +1.22%
  • Hindustan Unilever: +1.21%
• Top losers in Nifty 50:
  • Mahindra & Mahindra: -1.90%
  • Eicher Motors: -1.56%
  • ONGC: -1.18%
• Sector performance:
  • Nifty Media: +1.79%
  • FMCG: +0.69%
  • Consumer Durables: +0.52%
  • Nifty Bank: +0.12%
  • Nifty Auto: -0.91%
• Most active stocks (NSE volume):
  • Vodafone Idea: 117.3 crore shares
  • SEPC: 12.6 crore shares
  • Geojit Financial Services: 9.6 crore shares

Market Breadth and Key Levels

Market participation was balanced, reflecting a cautious trading sentiment:

• Advance-decline ratio (BSE): 2,237 advancers vs. 2,029 decliners
• 52-week highs: 132 stocks, including Vedanta, Muthoot Finance, Hindustan Zinc
• 52-week lows: 150 stocks, including Sheela Foam, Ramkrishna Forgings, Petronet LNG

These data points suggest selective buying in fundamentally strong or mid/small-cap names, despite broader market softness.

Monthly & Yearly Perspective

On a broader timeline:

• Sensex and Nifty 50 are in the red for December, after three consecutive months of gains.
• Year-to-date, Nifty 50 has gained 9.6%, and Sensex has risen 8.5%.

This indicates a market in consolidation mode, awaiting clearer triggers from global developments and domestic policy updates.

Summary: Market in Consolidation Mode

Monday’s trading showed a range-bound market with selective strength in mid and small-cap stocks.

• Sensex and Nifty 50 ended slightly lower.
• Mid and small-cap indices outperformed, maintaining market capitalisation levels.
• Investors remained cautious due to foreign fund outflows, rupee weakness, and trade uncertainties.

The market seems to be holding steady, with attention on sectors that are showing strength despite overall caution.