Final Trade: Sensex drops 200 points, Nifty holds 24,600; FMCG drags, IT and metals shine

The markets remained under pressure on Monday, with the Sensex dropping over 220 points to 81,489.12 and the Nifty slipping below 24,650. At mid-day, the Nifty stood at 24,600, reflecting a decline of 0.20 per cent.

Broader indices outperformed, with the Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices trading in the green, signalling resilience beyond the large-cap space.

Sectoral highlights

The FMCG index emerged as the biggest laggard, shedding 2 per cent, weighed down by stocks like Tata Consumer (-3.73 per cent), Hindustan Unilever (-3.45 per cent), and Britannia (-1.54 per cent). The media and auto sectors also faced selling pressure.

In contrast, the capital goods sector offered some respite, rising 1 per cent on the back of gains in Larsen & Toubro (+2 per cent).

Key movers

On the Nifty, top gainers included L&T, SBI Life Insurance, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank, and Adani Ports. Meanwhile, Tata Consumer, HUL, Nestle, Tata Motors, and Britannia Industries were among the top losers.

Outlook

The market continues to navigate a mixed landscape, with sectoral rotation and broader market participation cushioning the fall in benchmark indices. Investors are keenly watching upcoming macroeconomic data for further cues.