Market breadth remained negative on the National Stock Exchange of India, with declining stocks outnumbering gainers. Investors stayed cautious as rising crude prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions increased volatility expectations in the near term.
Extending early losses, benchmark equities opened sharply lower on Thursday as escalating tensions in West Asia and a renewed spike in crude oil prices dented investor sentiment. However, markets recovered from the day’s lows in the afternoon session amid selective buying in oil and gasPSU banks and metal stocks.
BSE Sensex had slumped 992.5 points earlier in the day, while the Nifty 50 dropped 310.55 points from the previous close.
At 1.54 pm, the Sensex was down 371.74 points or 0.48 per cent at 76,491.97. The Nifty 50 shed 98 points or 0.41 per cent to trade at 23,768.85.
Broader markets showed mixed trends. The midcap index posted mild gains, while the smallcap index edged lower. Sectoral performance remained uneven in the afternoon session. Auto and FMCG stocks continued to drag, falling around 2 per cent each. In contrast, oil and gas, PSU banks, chemicals, metals and media stocks led the gainers.
Auto stocks drag Nifty 50
Among the Nifty 50 constituents, Coal India, NTPC, Adani Enterprises, Jio Financial Services and Power Grid Corporation of India emerged as top gainers.
On the downside, Mahindra & Mahindra, Eicher Motors, Maruti SuzukiUltraTech Cement, Trent Limited and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles were among the major laggards.
A total of 3,214 stocks were traded on the NSE, of which 1,499 advanced and 1,607 declined, while 108 remained unchanged. Market breadth remained negative as declining shares outpaced gainers. As many as 31 stocks touched their 52-week highs, whereas 297 stocks hit their 52-week lows. In addition, 58 stocks were locked in the upper circuit limit, while 61 stocks were in the lower circuit.
Midcap and smallcap movers
In the midcap segment, NTPC Green Energy, Adani Total Gas, Aarti Industries, Bharat Heavy Electricals, Torrent Power and Suzlon rallied between 4 per cent and 19 per cent. Meanwhile, IndusInd Bank, Colgate-Palmolive India, Ashok Leyland, Astral Limited and Page Industries fell 2–4 per cent.
Among smallcaps, Aarti Industries, Reliance Power, Inox Wind, Devyani International, Swan Energy and CESC Limited advanced 4–6 per cent. On the other hand, Tejas Networks, Piramal Pharma, Amber Enterprises India, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company and Signature Global declined 3–6 per cent.
Investors remained cautious amid heightened geopolitical tensions and elevated crude oil prices, with volatility expected to persist in the near term.
Published on March 12, 2026