Sensex and Nifty News: Markets Slide From Day’s High as Selling Pressure Returns

Indian equity markets lost momentum in the second half of Wednesday’s trade. After starting the session on a steady note, both benchmark indices slipped from their intraday highs as selling pressure quietly crept back in.

By afternoon trade, the mood had turned cautious. Profit-booking emerged in select pockets, while foreign investor selling continued to weigh on sentiment. The result—Sensex and Nifty moved lower, giving up a chunk of early gains.

Market Performance: Sensex, Nifty Give Up Intraday Gains

At around 1:45 pm, the benchmark indices were trading marginally in the red.

• Sensex was down 104.14 points, or 0.12%, trading at 85,420.70
• The index had fallen nearly 318 points from its day’s high
• Nifty slipped below the 26,150 mark
• Nifty was trading at 26,157.40, down 19.75 points or 0.075%

The headline numbers may appear modest, but the intraday reversal clearly reflected growing caution among investors.

This move kept traders on edge, especially after the recent upward momentum seen over the last few sessions.

Main News: Why Did Sensex and Nifty Decline Today?

The decline in Sensex and Nifty News flows today can be traced to three clear factors playing out simultaneously. None were dramatic on their own, but together, they tilted the balance toward selling.

1. FII Selling Returns to the Spotlight

Foreign institutional investors were back on the sell side.

According to exchange data:

• FIIs sold equities worth ₹1,794.80 crore on Tuesday
• This marked the second consecutive day of net selling
• The selling came after FIIs had been buyers for three straight sessions

This shift in foreign flows acted as a key drag. Whenever FIIs turn cautious, it often limits how far the market can stretch on the upside, especially near record levels.

2. Profit-Booking Hits Select Heavyweight Sectors

With indices hovering close to recent highs, some investors chose to lock in gains. Profit-taking was visible in a few frontline sectors that had seen recent strength.

Selling pressure was noted in:

• IT stocks
• Pharmaceutical stocks
• Oil and gas shares

Among individual counters:

• Sun Pharmaceutical Industries
• Dr Reddy’s Laboratories

Both stocks declined by up to 1%, emerging as notable laggards during the session.

This selective selling pulled down index heavyweights, contributing to the broader market’s inability to sustain early gains.

3. IT Stocks Weaken on US Visa Policy Changes

The IT sector faced added pressure after fresh developments from the United States.

The US Department of Homeland Security announced changes to the H-1B work visa system:

• Visas will no longer be allocated purely through a lottery
• Applications will now be weighted
• Priority will be given to higher-paid and more skilled foreign workers

Following this announcement:

• IT stocks extended their decline for a second straight session
• This came after the sector had risen for four consecutive sessions

The policy change triggered renewed caution in IT names, which form a meaningful chunk of the Nifty and Sensex.

Company-Level Impact: Sectoral Drag Keeps Indices in Check

While broader selling was limited, weakness in index-heavy sectors made a noticeable impact.

• Pharma majors slipped modestly, dragging the healthcare pack
• IT stocks extended losses amid policy-related uncertainty
• Oil and gas shares also saw some profit-taking pressure

The absence of strong buying support in these segments meant the benchmarks lacked the strength to rebound meaningfully from intraday lows.

Summary: Sensex and Nifty End Lower Amid Cautious Trade

To sum it up, today’s Sensex and Nifty News reflected a classic case of markets pausing after recent gains.

• FIIs remained net sellers at ₹1,794.80 crore
• Profit-booking emerged in IT, pharma, and oil & gas stocks
• IT shares weakened further after updates to the US H-1B visa system
• Sensex slipped over 300 points from the day’s high
• Nifty traded below the 26,150 mark during afternoon hours

There was no panic, but the tone stayed guarded. The session highlighted how quickly sentiment can shift when global cues and investor positioning change, even slightly.

As the day progressed, markets continued to trade with a cautious undertone, reminding participants that consolidation often follows strong rallies.