Sensex, Nifty End Slightly Lower; Midcaps Shine

Indian equities closed with modest losses on Wednesday as investors booked profits in heavyweight stocks. The Sensex declined 141.90 points to 75,867.80, and the Nifty slipped 6.55 points to 23,907.15. Despite the headline weakness, broader market participation remained healthy, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices advancing 0.42 percent and 0.15 percent respectively. Media, energy and metal sectors outperformed, while financials and oil & gas underperformed. Stocks such as Indigo, Asian Paints and Adani Ports helped limit the downside in the Sensex basket. On the losing side, HUL, Tech Mahindra and Kotak Mahindra Bank dragged the index lower. Market experts highlighted that Nifty traded in a narrow range after an initial uptick. Resistance is placed at 24,030-24,050; a breach could trigger a quick move toward 24,200-24,350. On the downside, 23,700-23,720 remains a crucial support zone that traders are closely watching.