Sensex, Nifty end lower in Muhurat trading 2026; pharma, metal stocks gain
Foreign inflows of Rs 45,961 crore and falling crude prices lifted markets last week, but Sunday’s session gives back early gains
Indian equity benchmarks ended marginally lower in the special Muhurat trading session on Sunday (November 8), giving up early gains as investors booked profits following a strong rally in the previous week. The session marked the beginning of Samvat 2083, the Hindu financial year.
The BSE Sensex settled at 80,999.40, declining 28.62 points, or 0.04 per cent. The NSE Nifty 50 closed at 24,986.40, down 43.95 points, or 0.18 per cent.
Both benchmarks opened on a positive note, with the Sensex starting at 81,299.34 and the Nifty at 25,070.45. The indices extended their gains during the session, with the Sensex touching an intraday high of 81,442.11 and the Nifty reaching 25,131.85. However, profit-booking in the latter part of the session erased the early advances.
The decline also ended the benchmarks’ nine-year streak of positive Muhurat trading sessions.
Also read: Sensex jumps 402 points, Nifty gains 79 in Muhurat trading
Pharma and metal stocks lead gains
Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Pharma index advanced 1.70 per cent, while the Nifty Media index gained 1.71 per cent. Metal stocks also witnessed buying interest.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries was among the leading gainers, rising 3.17 per cent to Rs 1,919. Tata Steel gained 2.09 per cent to Rs 190.20. ONGC and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles also ended higher.
On the losing side, SBI Life Insurance declined 1.11 per cent, while InterGlobe Aviation fell 1.07 per cent. Bharti Airtel also closed lower.
Broader markets outperformed the benchmark indices, with the Nifty Smallcap 100 rising approximately 1.01 per cent. Market breadth remained positive, with 3,127 stocks advancing, 917 declining and 193 remaining unchanged.
Foreign inflows and crude oil prices
The special trading session followed a strong rally in the domestic equity market during the previous week. The Nifty 50 had gained approximately 8.58 per cent over the week, supported by renewed foreign institutional buying, easing crude oil prices and encouraging corporate earnings.
Foreign portfolio investors purchased Indian equities worth approximately Rs 45,961 crore over five trading sessions last week, providing support to domestic market sentiment.
Lower crude oil prices also improved the outlook for the Indian economy, given the country’s dependence on energy imports. Softer oil prices can help contain inflationary pressures, reduce the import bill and support the domestic currency.
Better-than-expected September-quarter corporate earnings further contributed to investor confidence.
Also read: IOC plans to buy crude oil, LPG ships amid Strait of Hormuz disruptions
Outlook for Samvat 2083
Investors enter Samvat 2083 with cautious optimism, supported by improving corporate earnings, renewed foreign investor participation and relatively favourable global developments.
However, the sustainability of the recent rally will depend on earnings growth, foreign capital flows, crude oil prices, currency movements and global market trends.
Market participants are expected to remain focused on corporate performance and macroeconomic developments as the new Hindu financial year begins.
