Sensex, Nifty in a volatile session; Pharma, metal, NBFC stocks limit losses; Eicher Motors, Maruti drag

The benchmarks pared early gains and were trading on a subdued note. However, the performance was broadly volatile. At around 10.47 am, Sensex is trading at 43,780.30 down 47.80 points or 0.11% and Nifty 50 was performing at 12,846.65 down 11.75 points or 0.09%. 

Sensex and Nifty has touched an intraday low of 43,655.60 and 12,805.20 respectively so far in the session.

Losses were limited due to buying in pharma, metal, financials, realty and PSU banks stocks.

Nifty Pharma was the top performer, surging by 63.15 points or 0.54% at 11,698.35. Gainers here were - Alkem Lab, Divis Lab, Lupin, Torrent Pharma and Sun Pharma gaining by near 1% each.

Meanwhile, Nifty Metal was at 2,824.35 up 0.28%. Stocks like SAIL, NMDC, Tata Steel and Ratnamani Metal lifted the index, advancing by 1% each.

Nifty Fin Services gained by 0.32% at 14,057.15. Top performers here were - ICICI Lombard (+4.5%), followed by REC (+3.5%), PFC (+2.8%), Bajaj Holding (+1.8%) and ICICI Prudential (+1.7%).

While Nifty PSU Bank and Nifty Realty surged marginally.

However, Nifty IT was the major laggard of the day, tumbling by 111.40 points or 0.51% at 21,594.50. Tech Mahindra, Infosys, L&T Infotech, Mindtree and TCS were biggest losers, plunging by 0.4-1.4%.

Currently, the Indian rupee is trading at 73.85 against the greenback at the interbank forex market. Amid volatility in domestic equities, the local currency opened at 73.83 per dollar against 73.91 of the previous closing.