Markets turned sharply lower by afternoon, with the Nifty 50 falling 104.60 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 24,881.80 as of 1.21 pm, after opening at 25,076. The Sensex declined 362.13 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 80,637.27 from its previous close of 80,999.40, as selling pressure broadened across IT, metals and cement sectors, overwhelming early gains in banking and pharma stocks.Market breadth turned negative on the BSE, where 2,517 stocks declined against 1,757 advances out of 4,530 traded. A total of 133 s ...

Indian stock markets saw a decline in early trade, primarily influenced by selling in major IT firms and investors engaging in profit-taking after a recent robust rally.Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/ReutersKey PointsIndian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade, driven by selling in IT firms and profit-taking.Major laggards in the Sensex included HCL Tech, Infosys, Power Grid, Bharti Airtel, UltraTech Cement, and Tata Consultancy Services.The market faces a key test of momentum, with inves ...