Markets End Lower for Fifth Straight Day

Indian stock markets ended in the red for the fifth consecutive trading session on Friday. Investor sentiment remained weak amid rising crude oil prices, inflation concerns, and fears of slowing economic growth. The BSE Sensex fell 332 points (0.43%) to close at 76,059.77, while the Nifty 50 declined 102.15 points (0.43%) to settle at 23,767.45.

Among the Nifty 50 stocks, Eternal, Bajaj Finance, and Mahindra & Mahindra emerged as the top losers. The Nifty Midcap index slipped 0.10%, while the Nifty Smallcap index lost 0.32%. Sector wise, the Nifty Auto index declined nearly 1%, making it the worst performer, followed by the Realty and Pharma sectors. Meanwhile, the Media and IT sectors ended the session with modest gains.