Sensex, Nifty End Lower as Global Cues and Rupee Weakness Weigh on Markets
- Sensex and Nifty ended marginally lower amid global cues, while midcap and smallcap stocks outperformed.
- Volatile trade and rupee weakness kept indices range-bound, with sector rotation in heavyweight stocks providing support.
- Announcements from Tata Power, SBI, Delhivery, Zydus Lifesciences, and Ion Exchange India are likely to drive stock-specific action.
Indian equity benchmarks ended Monday’s session on a muted note, snapping their two-day winning streak amid mixed global cues and persistent weakness in the rupee. While frontline indices struggled to find direction, broader markets managed to outperform, reflecting selective buying and sectoral rotation.
The BSE Sensex slipped 54 points, or 0.06 percent, to close at 85,213.36, while the Nifty 50 declined 20 points, or 0.08 percent, to settle at 26,027.30. In contrast, broader indices showed relative strength, with the BSE Midcap index rising 0.16 percent and the Smallcap index gaining 0.41 percent.
Market participants described the session as volatile yet largely range-bound. Ajit Mishra, Senior Vice President – Research at Religare Broking, said markets remained in a consolidation phase, with early caution driven by global uncertainties and rupee weakness. However, recovery in heavyweight stocks across key sectors helped limit losses and enabled the Nifty to close nearly flat. According to him, with most major domestic and global events behind, near-term market direction will largely be influenced by currency movement and global cues, while stock-specific action and sector rotation continue to provide support.
Against this backdrop, several stocks are likely to remain in focus in today’s trade due to fresh announcements and business updates.
Tata Power said it plans to invest nearly Rs 25,000 crore in capital expenditure during the current financial year and intends to maintain a similar level of annual investment until FY30. The announcement highlights the company’s continued focus on long-term growth, particularly in power generation, transmission, and renewable energy projects.
HCL Technologies announced the expansion of its digital transformation partnership with Aurobay Technologies. Under the collaboration, HCLTech will support Aurobay’s global operations by managing SAP systems, Siemens Teamcenter PLM, and integration services across Sweden and China, strengthening its presence in enterprise digital services.
State Bank of India said it will sign a €150-million line of credit agreement with Germany’s development bank KfW on December 16. The funds will be used to support climate-friendly energy projects, aligning with the bank’s focus on sustainable finance.
Texmaco Rail reported that it has secured an order worth Rs 132 crore from Touax Texmaco Railcar Leasing Pvt Ltd, a joint venture with France-based Touax Group. The order is for the supply of railway rakes, adding to the company’s order book.
Logistics major Delhivery announced the launch of an on-demand intracity delivery service through its Delhivery Direct app in Mumbai and Hyderabad. The service allows customers to schedule pickups within 15 minutes, marking a step into faster urban logistics.
Hyundai Motor India said its shareholders have approved the appointment of Tarun Garg as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1.
In the healthcare space, Zydus Lifesciences announced that the US FDA has accepted the New Drug Application for CUTX-101, a treatment for Menkes disease, with a PDUFA action date set for January 14, 2026.
Ion Exchange India secured contracts worth Rs 205 crore from Rayzon Energy and INOX Solar, while Senores Pharmaceuticals announced plans to acquire Apnar Pharma. Can Fin Homes declared an interim dividend of Rs 7 per share, with December 19 as the record date.
Overall, markets remain in a consolidation phase, with stock-specific developments expected to drive near-term movements.
