Market Close Report Today, September 30, 2026: Sensex Ends Flat, Nifty Declines As Elevated Oil Weighs

Mumbai, September 30: Indian equity benchmarks ended lower on Wednesday after failing to hold early gains in a volatile session, with losses in metal and pharmaceutical stocks weighing on the Nifty. Buying in banking, realty and media stocks helped cushion the decline, while the broader market remained relatively resilient. 

The Sensex closed 48.78 points, or 0.07%, lower at 72,480.29, while the Nifty fell 95.75 points, or 0.42%, to 22,620.45. The indices swung between gains and losses during the session as investors remained cautious amid persistent global and domestic concerns. 

Market Breadth Remains Mixed 

Market breadth on the NSE was marginally negative, with 2,051 shares advancing against 2,135 stocks that declined, while 187 stocks ended unchanged. 

Among the Nifty constituents, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, InterGlobe Aviation, Wipro and Tech Mahindra emerged as the top gainers. On the other hand, Max Healthcare, Apollo Hospitals, SBI Life Insurance, Eternal and ONGC were among the biggest losers. 

The broader market showed some resilience despite the weakness in headline indices. The Nifty Midcap index ended flat, while the Nifty Smallcap index gained 0.2%, suggesting that buying interest remained in select pockets beyond the large-cap segment. 

Metal, Pharma Stocks Drag 

Sectoral performance was mixed, with metal and pharmaceutical stocks falling more than 1% each and emerging as the biggest drags on the benchmark. The declines came amid continued caution among investors following the recent market volatility. 

On the other hand, PSU banks, private banks, realty and media stocks gained between 1% and 2%, helping limit the downside in the broader market. Gains in heavyweight banking stocks, particularly ICICI Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank, provided some support to the benchmarks. 

Oil, FII Selling Remain Key Risks 

Investors continued to track crude oil prices closely, with Brent crude remaining above $103 a barrel. Elevated oil prices remain a concern for India because of its dependence on crude imports and the potential impact on inflation, the trade deficit and corporate profitability. 

Foreign investor selling also remained a key overhang for domestic equities. Foreign portfolio investors sold Indian equities worth Rs 9,980 crore on Tuesday, their biggest single-day outflow in about four months. Their September selling has reached around $2.7 billion, while year-to-date outflows have climbed to $26.75 billion. 

With September trading now over, attention will turn to the October series. Investors are likely to track foreign fund flows, crude prices, global bond yields and US monetary policy expectations, along with upcoming corporate earnings, for cues on the market’s next direction. 

Source

•  NSE
• BSE