Markets trade cautiously as Sensex, Nifty remain rangebound amid mixed cues

Sensex, Nifty Move Sideways as Markets Remain Cautious on Mixed Signals

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Pinky Deshmukh

Last Updated: December 18, 2025

Summary: Sensex and Nifty trade flat to lower; cautious sentiment persists on weak global and domestic cues.

Indian markets remained quiet on Thursday as investors processed conflicting global cues and domestic happenings, keeping key indices in a cautious trading range.

The Sensex opened slightly lower, down about 150 points, while the Nifty 50 stayed around the 25,750-25,850 range in early trade, indicating that traders were hesitant to make major moves.

There wasn’t much broad direction in the market. Some sectors, including IT stocks, posted minor gains, helping to cushion overall losses, but auto and midcap stocks remained under pressure, pulling the broader indices down.

Some major players, such as Tata Consultancy Services and some bank shares, did well, while others, including energy and consumer-related companies, saw minimal interest. Early indicators suggested investors were watching global central bank moves and economic data closely before committing fresh capital.

Market analysts pointed out that the GIFT Nifty futures tended to signal a flat to softer start, reflecting the broader uncertainty that’s been keeping Dalal Street in a consolidative mode. Support levels near 25,700 for Nifty and resistance around the 25,950–26,000 range were expected to be key reference points for intraday moves.

Part of the cautious mood also comes from ongoing foreign institutional investor flows and currency movement. With some overnight volatility in global shares and a cautious rupee, traders appear reluctant to chase aggressive positions without clearer data.

For now, the market seems stuck in a narrow trading band, with stock-specific action offering the best opportunities rather than broad sector rallies. Investors are likely to wait for fresh cues — including economic pointers and global policy signals — before pushing markets in either direction.