Markets End Lower for Second Straight Session Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

 Indian equity markets closed lower for the second consecutive session on April 25, with both benchmark indices under pressure due to heightened geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. The Nifty ended near the 24,000 mark, while the Sensex shed nearly 600 points.

At the close, the Sensex was down 588.90 points or 0.74% at 79,212.53, and the Nifty fell 207.35 points or 0.86% to settle at 24,039.35. Markets opened with a brief uptick, but a sharp decline followed in the first half of the session. A late rebound in select heavyweight stocks helped pare some losses, although broader sentiment remained weak.

The new derivatives series began on a cautious note, with traders booking profits after a sharp recent rally. The geopolitical uncertainty — particularly following the terror attack in Pahalgam and India's subsequent suspension of the Indus Water Treaty — triggered broad-based selling, especially ahead of the weekend. Retaliatory firing along the Line of Control further spooked investors, pushing them into a risk-off mode.

Across sectors, most indices ended in the red. Realty, pharma, energy, media, metals, PSU banks, telecom, power, and oil & gas stocks dropped 2–3%. The BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices were hit harder, each shedding 2.5%, reflecting concerns over stretched valuations. Out of total traded stocks, only 682 advanced, while 3,138 declined, and 115 remained unchanged.

The volatility index surged 6%, underlining rising investor fear. Despite the overall negative sentiment, IT stocks offered some support, with Infosys, TCS, Tech Mahindra, and IndusInd Bank among the top gainers. On the flip side, Axis Bank, Adani Enterprises, Shriram Finance, Adani Ports, and Trent were the biggest laggards on the Nifty.

Technically, the Nifty slipped after a consolidation phase on the daily chart, breaching its 200-day moving average — a signal that bearish momentum may be resuming. Key support levels lie at 23,800 and 23,515. Holding above 23,800 is crucial to maintain a positive outlook in the near term. Otherwise, further selling pressure could emerge.

Given the prevailing geopolitical concerns and stretched valuations in certain pockets, market participants are advised to maintain a cautious stance and consider a hedged approach to manage risk.