Benchmark domestic equity indices finished today’s trading session with moderate losses of 0.2 per cent. The Sensex slipped 151 points to close at 73 thousand 833, while the Nifty dipped 53 points to settle at 23 thousand and 162. In the broader market on the National Stock Exchange, the Midcap 100 index lost 0.8 per cent and Smallcap 100 index fell nearly 0.7 per cent.

Earlier, the markets opened lower today in line with weak global cues. Both the indices gradually pared their losses and moved into positive territory during the session, but selling pressure in the final hour erased gains, pushing them back into negative territory.

In the Sensex pack, shares of 21 out of 30 companies registered losses. Among the top under performers, Infosys plunged 2.7 per cent, HCL Tech dropped two per cent, and Adani Ports lost 1.9 per cent. On the other hand, ICICI Bank emerged as a leading gainer, rising 1.9 per cent, while Mahindra & Mahindra advanced 1.7 per cent and Kotak Mahindra Bank added 1.1 per cent.

Among the sectoral indices on the BSE, 20 out of 25 sectors ended in negative territory. IT was the top laggard, declining 1.8 per cent, followed by Focused IT, which fell 1.6 per cent, and Industrials, which dropped 1.4 per cent. On the gaining side, the Private Bank index rose 0.4 per cent, the Healthcare index advanced by a quarter per cent, and Bankex added 0.2 per cent.

The overall market breadth at the BSE was negative, as shares of 2 thousand 807 companies declined, 1 thousand 384 advanced, and 198 remained unchanged.