Sensex Slips 8 Points In Volatile Trade, Nifty Settles Below 15,800

Indian equity benchmarks on Thursday slipped into the red during late deals, extending their fall for the second straight session amid mixed cues from the Asian markets. Moreover, U.S. stock futures slipped in early trade today on worries over a recession.

During the intra-day deals, the domestic indices fluctuated between gains and losses amid the expiry of June series futures and options (F&O) contracts.

The 30-share BSE Sensex edged 8 points or 0.02 per cent lower to close at 53,019 today, while the broader NSE Nifty fell 19 points or 0.12 per cent to settle at 15,780.

During the June quarter, the indices fell around 9.5 per cent each, their worst performance since the March quarter of 2020, news agency Reuters reported.

Mid- and small-cap shares finished on a weak note as Nifty Midcap 100 tumbled 0.82 per cent and small-cap dropped 0.46 per cent.

11 out of the 15 sector gauges -- compiled by the National Stock Exchange -- settled in the red. Sub-indexes Nifty Auto, Nifty IT and Nifty Metal underperformed the NSE platform by falling 1.26 per cent, 1.05 per cent and 1.99 per cent, respectively.

However, Nifty Bank and Nifty Financial Services showed strength by climbing 0.47 per cent and 0.46 per cent each.

On the stock-specific front, Eicher Motors was the top Nifty loser as the stock cracked 3.55 per cent to Rs 2,784.05. Cipla, BPCL, JSW Steel and Shree Cement were also among the laggards.

The overall market breadth stood negative as 1,377 shares advanced while 1,899 declined on BSE.

On the 30-share BSE index, Tech Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, HCL Tech, M&M, Nestle India, UltraTech Cement, Wipro, TCS and Maruti were among the top losers.

Food delivery firm Zomato tanked 5.93 per cent to settle at 53.90. Also, digital payments firm Paytm 4.24 per cent to close at Rs 675.80.

Further, shares of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the country's biggest insurer and largest domestic financial investor, slipped 0.78 per cent to end at Rs 673.60.

In contrast, Axis Bank, SBI, Kotak Mahindra Bank, NTPC, L&T, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank and Titan finished in the green.