Prime End of the Day Summary: View on Market Performance 30 March 2026

Nifty Plunges Nearly 500 Points on Weak Global Cues, Lowest Close Since April 7, 2025

Nifty opened 270 points lower amid weak global cues and rising crude prices. From early lows of 22,472, it staged a 200-point pullback in the first 20 minutes. However, profit-booking kicked in at higher levels and persisted all day. Nifty finally ended the day near its lows, down 488 points at 22,331, its lowest close since April 7, 2025. NSE cash market volumes dipped 7% from the prior session.

Among Nifty stocks, Hindalco, Tech Mahindra, and Coal India bucked the trend with the highest gains. Banking and NBFC names like Bajaj Finance, Shriram Finance, and SBI saw heavy selling as top laggards.

All sectoral indices ended lower, led by steep drops in PSU Banks, Financial Services, and Realty.

Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices echoed the benchmark, each falling 2.7%. Market breadth remained dismal for a second consecutive session, evidenced by a skewed BSE advance-decline ratio of 0.25.

The rupee opened sharply higher, gaining over 100 basis points after RBI’s Friday move of imposing a uniform $100 million limit on banks’ net open forex positions, replacing the prior 25% capital cap to curb speculative “long-dollar” bets. However, gains faded amid higher crude and weak equities. Rupee finally ended the day with the losses of 2 paise at new lifetime low of 94.83.

Nifty’s short-term trend remains weak, trading below its key moving averages and the March 23 swing low of 22,471. On the higher side 22,800 stands as the immediate hurdle on any recovery attempt. On the downside, 21700-21900 band is likely to act as immediate support.