Equity benchmark indices declined to trade in the red after a flat opening due to sharp selling pressure. Sensex declined 301.76 pts or 0.39 per cent to 77,304.67 as at 12.44 pm, and Nifty 50 dropped 87.60 pts or 0.37 per cent to 23,504.35.

However, it showed resilience due to renewed buying by FIIs in early trade, despite the US reciprocal tariff threats.

Nifty IT, pharma, healthcare index, realty and auto sectors experienced maximum selling pressure, while oil & gas and FMCG stocks showed moderate gains.

The market awaits a cooling down of global headwinds. However, it will look forward to the April 9, 2025, RBI monetary policy and Q4 results. The market will be closed on Monday, March 31, 2025, on account of Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan Id) and will resume after a three-day-long weekend on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Shares of ONGC, Tata Consumer Products, Jio Financial, Tata Motors and Kotak Mahindra Bank led the gainers among Nifty 50 components.

Mahindra & Mahindra, Shriram Finance, Wipro, IndusInd and Power Grid were the major laggards.

Of the total of 2,872 stocks that were traded on the National Stock Exchange as at 12.20 pm, 1,555 advanced and 1,238 declined. In addition, 28 stocks hit a 52-week high and 188 hit a 52-week low .Nearly 90 stocks hit the lower circuit.

Top gainers & losers today

ONGC shares surged 4.88 per cent to ₹254 following an investment of ₹3,300 crore in equity shares of its wholly-owned subsidiary ONGC Green Ltd., and its arm’s acquisition of Ayana Renewable Power Pvt Ltd.

Tata Consumer Products followed with a 3.52 per cent surge to ₹1,007.80.

Jio Financial shares, which recently joined the Nifty 50 pack, gained 2.18 per cent to ₹230.70.

Auto major Tata Motors rose 1.19 per cent to ₹676.50, a day after feeling the heat of auto tariffs.

Banking stock Kotak Mahindra gained 1.50 per cent to ₹2,160.55.

Adani Green and Adani Energy Solutions were also in focus today. Adani Energy shares traded flat at ₹874.70 at the time of writing, after gaining nearly 3 per cent in early trade.

On the flip side, Mahindra & Mahindra stock fell 2.43 per cent to ₹2,666.55.

Shriram Finance sank 2.64 per cent to ₹660.60 and IT major Wipro declined 2.22 per cent to ₹266.15.

IndusInd shares slumped 2.99 per cent to ₹653.40. The stock will remain in focus today as reports suggest that PwC will submit a report regarding accounting discrepancies in its derivatives portfolio to the bank’s board. Trending stocks today – IndusInd, BEL & IREDA, follow live updates here

Power Grid shares dropped 2.12 per cent to ₹289.25.

On the BSE, Aster DM led the gainers with an 8 per cent uptick. Power Mech, Fotis Healthcare and JSW Holdings followed with over 5 per cent increase. Garware Technical and Aegis Logistics slumped over 8 per cent and Indian Overseas Bank sank 6.37 per cent.