New Delhi, 3 December (H.S.): Indian benchmark indices faced downward pressure in early trading on Wednesday, with both Sensex and Nifty dipping into negative territory after an initial flat-to-mixed opening driven briefly by buying support.

The BSE Sensex opened marginally higher at 85,150.64, up 12.37 points, and touched 85,269.68 before selling intensified, leaving it down 282.10 points or 0.33% at 84,856.17 by 10:15 AM. Similarly, the NSE Nifty started 27.30 points lower at 26,004.90, recovered to 26,066.45, then fell 104.10 points or 0.40% to 25,928.10 in the first hour.

Among Sensex heavyweights, TCS, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, HCL Technology, and HDFC Bank traded between 0.12% and 1.03% higher, while Hindustan Unilever, Shriram Finance, Max Healthcare, Tata Consumer Products, and NTPC declined 1.07% to 1.62%. Of 2,253 active stocks, 748 advanced against 1,505 decliners; Sensex saw 3 gainers versus 27 losers, and Nifty had 5 up and 45 down.

This followed Tuesday's close where Sensex fell 503.63 points or 0.59% to 85,138.27, and Nifty dropped 143.55 points or 0.55% to 26,032.20 amid broader caution ahead of key events.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar