Stock markets close largely in red after volatile session, Nifty below 25,700

Indian equity benchmarks ended Wednesday’s session largely in the red, paring losses from intraday lows amid mixed cues from earnings and commodity-linked stocks. The Sensex fell 245 points to close at 83,382, while the Nifty declined 67 points to settle at 25,666, slipping below the 25,700 mark.

The Nifty Bank index was flat, ending just one point higher at 59,580, even as select banking and financial names saw stock-specific action. In contrast, broader markets outperformed, with the midcap index gaining

173 points to close at 59,770, supported by sharp moves in energy, metals and select PSU stocks.

Metal stocks extended gains for a third consecutive session, led by Vedanta, which hit a record high. MRPL surged 9% after reporting strong third-quarter results, while Hindustan Zinc and Bank of India featured among the top midcap gainers. Union Bank of India jumped over 8% on robust Q3 earnings, adding to positive sentiment in select PSU lenders.

Real estate stocks also saw buying interest, with Puravankara rallying over 9% and Ajmera Realty rising more than 2% following their respective Q3 business updates. Energy names remained firm as Brent crude climbed above $65 a barrel, lifting ONGC and Oil India by around 2% each.

On the flip side, Asian Paints emerged as the top Nifty loser, sliding nearly 3% amid higher crude prices. Polycab India fell 3% after nearly 7.98 lakh shares worth about ₹590 crore changed hands in a block deal. Technology stocks saw pressure post earnings, with Tata Elxsi dropping 5% and Just Dial slipping 2% following their Q3 results.

HDFC Asset Management Company rose nearly 3% after reporting a 3% year-on-year rise in Q3 net profit to ₹769 crore, providing some support to the financials pack.

Overall, the session remained volatile, with earnings and commodity cues driving sharp stock-specific moves despite broader indices closing lower.