Indian equities ended the session with mixed outcomes, as the Nifty fell for the sixth straight day, while the Sensex managed to snap a five-day losing streak, closing higher. The broader market underperformed as market sentiment remained cautious, with declines in mid-cap stocks and pressure in key sectors such as Information Technology and Metals, amid ongoing concerns over potential US tariff talks.

The Nifty ended down by 6 points, at 22,548, marking its sixth consecutive loss, while the Sensex rose by 148 points, closing at 74,602. The Nifty Bank index saw a modest decline, falling by 44 points to 48,608, while the mid-cap index dropped by 311 points to 49,702.

In terms of sectoral performance, Information Technology (IT) and Metals stocks remained under pressure throughout the session, tracking developments related to the US tariff talks. On the positive side, stocks such as IOC and Central Bank posted minor gains, driven by the government’s plans to sell stakes in certain public sector banks (PSBs), while foreign institutional investors (FIs) showed interest in these stocks.

Among individual stocks, M&M (Mahindra & Mahindra) stood out as the top Nifty gainer, with a more than 2% jump, extending its gains for the second consecutive day. Airtel also gained over 2% following a positive brokerage note and news about its partnership with Ericsson for 5G core technology. Maruti Suzuki saw a near 1% rise, bolstered by the commencement of commercial production at its Kharkhoda, Haryana facility.

On the other hand, PB FinTech and Delhivery were among the top losers in the mid-cap space, following a tough day for broader market sentiment. Can Fin Homes dropped 5%, and Atul Ltd lost 4%, both affected by concerns surrounding their exclusion from the futures and options (F&O) segment starting March.

In stock-specific news, Tata Investment Corporation rose nearly 7%, while Tata Motors saw minor cuts amid plans to launch a public offering related to Tata Capital’s IPO.

The broader market breadth favored declines, with the advance-decline ratio standing at 1:1, indicating a largely balanced market, but with a slight tilt toward negative sentiment.

Looking ahead, traders will be watching for any developments on the global trade front, especially related to US tariff discussions, which could further influence the performance of sectors such as IT and Metals in the coming sessions.