Markets End Lower Despite Late Rebound; Nifty Struggles Below 25,250

Indian markets had a choppy ride on Monday, swinging between losses and a brief recovery before settling in the red. A late burst of buying helped limit the damage, but overall sentiment stayed cautious as traders booked profits after last week’s rally.

The Sensex slipped about 174 points to close near 82,327, while the Nifty 50 lost around 58 points, finishing a little below 25,250. Both indices spent most of the session under pressure before a mild recovery in the final hour.

What Drove the Mood

Investors seemed hesitant to make big moves ahead of key global cues. Weakness in IT, FMCG, and metal stocks dragged the market lower, while selective buying in banking and auto counters prevented a sharper fall.

Names like Tata Motors, Infosys, and Hindustan Unilever were among the major laggards. On the other hand, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finance, and Adani Ports managed to end the day on a stronger note.

Under the Surface

Even with the headline indices cooling off, there were plenty of stock-specific moves. Over 150 stocks hit fresh 52-week highs on the BSE — a sign that investors are still finding opportunities beneath the index-level volatility.

Traders said the tone remains “buy on dips,” though momentum looks fragile with global markets offering mixed signals and crude prices edging higher again.

Technical Picture

From a chart perspective, analysts believe the Nifty is consolidating after a strong run-up. The index faces a ceiling near 25,400–25,500, while support is expected around 25,100–25,000.

Unless it breaks below those levels decisively, the medium-term trend stays positive, though short-term movements may remain choppy. For now, market watchers expect more range-bound action with stock-specific play dominating.