Indian equity benchmarks extended their decline for a third straight session on December 10, closing lower amid caution ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision. The Nifty 50 fell 0.32% to close at 25,758, slipping below the 25,800 level for the first time in about a month, while the Sensex dropped 275 points to 84,391.
Sectoral and Stock-Specific Moves:
- Top Gainers (Nifty): Eicher Motors, Hindalco, HDFC Life, Tata Steel, Adani Ports.
- Top Losers (Nifty): InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo), Zomato, Trent, Bharti Airtel, Apollo Hospitals.
- Sector Performance: Only the Metal index (+0.5%) closed higher. IT, Capital Goods, Realty, Consumer Durables, and PSU/Private Bank indices fell 0.5-1%.
- Broader Market Underperformance: The BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices fell 1% and 0.7%, respectively. Over 120 stocks hit 52-week lows, including Dixon Technologies, Inox Wind, and Page Industries.
Notable Corporate Updates:
- Kalpataru Projects fell 1% despite winning ₹2,003 crore in new orders.
- Hindustan Zinc surged over 4% as silver prices hit a record high.
- Adani Green dipped 1% after a 2.24 crore share block deal.
IPO Debuts: A Mixed Bag
- Meesho: Made a bumper debut, listing at a 46% premium (₹162.5 vs. IPO price ₹111) and closing 5.74% higher at ₹170.45.
- Aequs: Listed at a 12.9% premium (₹140) and closed 6.89% higher at ₹149.65.
- Vidya Wires: Debuted flat at ₹52 (upper end of price band) and closed at ₹52.80.
Technical Outlook: Key Levels to Watch
- Sudeep Shah, SBI Securities:
- Support: 50-day EMA (25,730–25,700) is immediate support. A break below 25,700 could trigger a fall toward 25,500.
- Resistance: 20-day EMA (25,950–26,000) is now acting as strong resistance.
- Nagaraj Shetti, HDFC Securities:
- The market showed an "inability of bulls to sustain the bounce," indicating a "sell on rise" sentiment.
- Critical Support: 25,700–25,600 (previous gap & 10-week EMA). A breakdown could lead to broader weakness.
- Resistance: Any bounce could face selling near 25,900–26,000.
Market Drivers and Near-Term Focus:
The decline was driven by:
- Global Risk-Off: Rising Japanese bond yields and BOJ tightening signals dampened EM sentiment.
- Fed Uncertainty: While a 25 bps cut is expected, the 2026 rate path remains unclear, causing caution.
- Domestic Headwinds: Persistent FII outflows, a weak rupee, and unresolved U.S.-India trade talks added pressure.
Bottom Line:
Indian markets are in a cautious consolidation phase, with the Nifty trapped between 25,700 support and 26,000 resistance. The Fed’s tone tonight will be critical: a dovish signal could trigger a relief rally toward 26,000, while a hawkish surprise risks a break below 25,700, targeting 25,500. The underperformance of mid- and small-caps and a large number of stocks at 52-week lows suggest selective risk-off. Traders should wait for a decisive break on either side of the 25,700–26,000 range before taking aggressive directional bets.