New Delhi, 17 December (H.S.): Indian stock markets opened with early optimism Wednesday but quickly succumbed to profit-taking pressure, leaving benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty in negative territory after the first hour of trading. Initial buying support propelled both indices higher post-open, yet selling accelerated within 20 minutes, erasing gains and pushing Sensex down 0.10% and Nifty 0.09% by 10:15 a.m.

Among heavyweight stocks, Eicher Motors, State Bank of India, Shriram Finance, Hindalco Industries, and Bajaj Finance traded firmly higher, gaining between 0.96% and 1.50%, while ICICI Bank, Max Healthcare, Trent Limited, HDFC Life, and Jio Financial Services faced selling pressure, declining 0.36% to 1.38%. Of 2,541 actively traded stocks, 1,210 advanced in green, but 1,331 lagged in red; Sensex's 30 components saw 18 risers against 12 decliners, with Nifty's 50 stocks split 30-20 in favor of gainers.

BSE Sensex commenced at 84,856.26, up 176.40 points, peaking at 84,889.45 on fresh purchases before profit-booking dragged it to 84,598.80, a 81.06-point or 0.10% retreat. Similarly, NSE Nifty launched at 25,902.40, adding 42.30 points initially and touching 25,929.15, only to slip 23.25 points to 25,836.85 amid sustained volatility.

This follows Tuesday's close where Sensex shed 533.50 points or 0.63% to 84,679.86, and Nifty dropped 167.20 points or 0.64% to 25,860.10.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar