Operation Sindoor Day 2 impact on stock market: Nifty50 ends below 24,300; BSE Sensex dips over 400 points

Operation Sindoor Day 2 impact on stock market today: Indian stock markets dropped in a volatile trading session on Thursday, with banking, FMCG and auto sectors facing pressure due to heightened India-Pakistan tensions. The NSE Nifty settled at 24,273.80, decreasing by 140.60 points or 0.58 per cent, with an intraday low of 24,150.20.The 30-share index Sensex closed at 80,334.81, down by 411.97 points or 0.51 per cent, with 23 stocks declining. Despite opening higher and reaching 80,927.99 in the late morning, the index lost ground in the afternoon.The index experienced significant pressure, falling to 79,987.61, marking a decline of 759.17 points in pre-close trading. The NSE Nifty settled at 24,273.80, decreasing by 140.60 points or 0.58 per cent, with an intraday low of 24,150.20.Indian defence forces successfully countered Pakistani military attempts to target various locations across Northern and Western India using drones and missiles overnight, whilst destroying a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore, according to official reports on Thursday.Pakistani forces attempted strikes on multiple locations including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.The defence ministry confirmed that these attempts were neutralised by the Integrated Counter Unmanned Aircraft System. The ministry stated that Indian forces targeted Pakistani air defence systems at various locations, responding with comparable intensity.Responding to the Pahalgam incident, Indian forces conducted a 25-minute "measured and non-escalatory" operation on Wednesday, destroying nine terror facilities of Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir using precision missiles.Among Sensex components, Eternal, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti, and several others declined, whilst Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank, and Titan showed gains. The BSE midcap and smallcap indices fell by 1.90 per cent and 1.05 per cent respectively.Market expert Vinod Nair noted that profit-booking occurred due to increased cross-border tensions, whilst the FOMC meeting raised concerns about US tariffs' impact on inflation and employment.Global markets remained positive, supported by potential US-UK trade agreements and Chinese trade discussions. FIIs invested Rs 2,585.86 crore in equities on Wednesday.Asian markets closed positively, with European markets trading higher. US markets finished up on Wednesday. Brent crude rose 1 per cent to USD 61.75 per barrel.