Indian Stock Market Ends Slightly Lower After Volatile Day, FMCG Stocks Show Strength

Mumbai, July 31  — The Indian stock market closed a little lower on Thursday after a day full of ups and downs. The market stayed strong even after the U.S. placed new tariffs on India. This was mainly because investors showed interest in FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) stocks.

The Sensex, which includes 30 big companies, ended at 81,185.58 points, dropping by 296.28 points or 0.36%. It started the day with a sharp fall at 80,695.50 but later recovered. In the afternoon, it even went up to an intraday high of 81,803.27 as buying increased in consumer-related stocks. However, it lost strength in the last hour due to the monthly expiry of futures and options.

The Nifty index also ended lower at 24,768.35, down 86.70 points or 0.35%.

Experts say that India’s economy remains strong despite global challenges. Still, the stock market felt pressure across many sectors. Big losers on the Sensex included Tata Steel, Sun Pharma, NTPC, Reliance, Asian Paints, L\&T, and Titan. On the other hand, Hindustan Unilever, Eternal, ITC, and Kotak Mahindra Bank finished higher.

The broader market also saw losses. Nifty 100 dropped 95 points (0.38%), Nifty Midcap 100 fell 541 points (0.93%), and Nifty Smallcap 100 slipped 190 points (1.05%).

One bright spot was the FMCG sector. The Nifty FMCG index jumped 791 points, or 1.44%, led by Hindustan Unilever after it posted good earnings for the first quarter. Other sectors like auto, IT, and banking ended in the red, with Nifty Auto down 89 points, Nifty IT down 180 points, and Nifty Bank down 188 points.

Analysts said investors were more interested in companies that focus on India’s local market and are less affected by global trade issues. FMCG stocks attracted buyers due to good value, steady demand, and safety from tariff risks.