Final Trade: Sensex down 192 pts; Nifty closes at 23,519; FMCG, Oil top gainers

Indian benchmark indices wrapped up the final trading session of FY25 on a weak note as concerns over escalating global trade tensions weighed on investor sentiment. The benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, ended Friday’s session in the red, dragged down by heavy selling in IT and auto stocks.

Markets end lower as global trade jitters mount

The Nifty 50 settled at 23,496, shedding 94 points or 0.40 per cent, while the Sensex declined 192 points or 0.35 per cent to close at 77,336. The broader market indices also reflected similar weakness, with the Nifty Midcap 100 falling 0.47 per cent to 51,596, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 dropping 0.45 per cent to 16,052.

Sectors such as IT and auto bore the brunt of the selling pressure, as investors braced for fresh U.S. trade tariffs under President Donald Trump’s administration. The upcoming U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data, a key inflation gauge for the Federal Reserve, also added to the cautious stance among market participants.

FMCG, oil stocks shine amid volatility

Despite the overall market weakness, select FMCG and oil stocks provided some support, helping limit deeper losses. Hindustan Unilever, ITC, and Reliance Industries were among the few gainers as defensive buying picked up in the final hour of trade.

“The markets are showing signs of exhaustion after a strong March rally. Investors are also keenly watching geopolitical developments, particularly trade policy shifts from the U.S., which could have significant repercussions on global commerce,” said a market analyst.

FY25: A year of resilience and volatility

Despite the day’s losses, both indices recorded healthy gains over the fiscal year. The Nifty 50 surged 6.37 per cent in FY25, while the Sensex climbed nearly 6 per cent. These gains were primarily driven by a sharp recovery in the last 10 sessions, supported by strong Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) inflows after an extended phase of outflows since October.

With the new fiscal year set to begin next week, analysts expect market volatility to persist, especially as investors assess upcoming trade policies and economic data releases. All eyes will be on the U.S. tariff announcement on April 2, which could dictate global market trends in the near term.