New Delhi, 18 December (H.S.): Domestic stock markets opened under pressure Thursday, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty witnessing sharp declines amid volatile trading in the initial session. After an early rebound fueled by buying support, both gauges surrendered gains within minutes, succumbing to mounting sell-off pressures; by 10:00 a.m., Sensex traded 0.26% lower at 84,340 points—down 219.65 points—while Nifty shed 0.27% to 25,749.65, a drop of 68.90 points.

Blue-Chips Diverge Amid Broader Weakness

Among heavyweight stocks, Shriram Finance, TCS, Axis Bank, Tech Mahindra, and SBI Life Insurance bucked the trend, advancing between 0.06% and 0.61%, whereas Jio Financial, Maruti Suzuki, NTPC, Tata Steel, and Asian Paints plunged 0.83% to 1.16%.

Trading activity encompassed 2,487 scrips, with 598 advancing and 1,889 declining; Sensex's 30 constituents saw 6 gainers against 24 laggards, while Nifty's 50 stocks featured 11 upticks amid 39 downticks.

Volatile Open Echoes Wednesday's Fade

Sensex commenced 41.32 points weaker at 84,518.33, briefly surging to 84,570.60 on buying impetus before reversing into negative territory. Nifty mirrored the pattern, debuting 53.85 points off at 25,764.70, peaking at 25,827.15, then retreating.

Wednesday's prior close had Sensex at 84,559.65 (down 0.14%) and Nifty at 25,818.55 (down 0.16%), setting a cautious tone for today's proceedings.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar