Sensex Today | Stock Market Highlights: Nifty slips below 24,100 as West Asia tensions rattle markets

Stock Market Highlights: Markets ended sharply lower on Tuesday as escalating West Asia tensions, a spike in crude oil prices and a weaker rupee weighed on sentiment. The Sensex fell 562 points to 77,055, while the Nifty declined 159 points to close at 24,052. Market breadth remained weak, with the NSE advance-decline ratio at 1:2, and 34 Nifty constituents ended in the red.

HCLTech was the top Nifty loser, dropping over 4% after reporting a mixed set of Q1 earnings. Auto stocks, including Tata Motors and Bajaj Auto, declined as higher crude prices weighed on the sector, while aviation and paint companies also came under pressure, with IndiGo falling around 2%. Life insurers such as ICICI Prudential Life and HDFC Life ended lower ahead of their quarterly results.

Defensive buying was visible in pharma and select IT stocks, with Sun Pharma and TCS among the top Nifty gainers. Biocon surged 7% after Mylan exited its 5.6% stake through a block deal, while CONCOR gained over 6% following its Q1 business update. MCX rose 4%, Kalyan Jewellers extended its rally with another 4% gain, and Landmark Cars jumped 15% on strong sales growth.