India equity benchmarks end muted as foreign outflows weigh; metals rise

India’s equity benchmarks ended little changed on Tuesday, with sentiment muted by foreign fund outflows in thin year-end trade.

The Nifty 50 slipped 0.01% to 25,938.85, while the BSE Sensex eased 0.02% to 84,675.08.

Ten of the 16 major sectors fell. Small-caps and mid-caps declined 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively.

“There aren’t many triggers for market globally as well as in India. We are seeing a rally in metals on optimism over commodity prices, while Nifty rebalancing is impacting some stocks,” said Anita Gandhi, head of institutional business at Arihant Capital Markets.

Metal stocks gained 2%, rising for the twelfth time in 14 sessions.

The benchmarks have dropped about 1% in five sessions on persistent foreign selling in light volumes. Overseas investors have offloaded a record high $18.5 billion of Indian shares in 2025, propelling a rare underperformance for Indian equities against emerging market and Asian peers. Among stocks, Eternal fell 2% on reports of a resignation from chief financial officer of quick commerce arm Blinkit.

Cupid gained 4.6% after getting board approval to set up a fast-moving consumer goods manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia, marking its expansion outside India.

Honasa Consumer gained 5.2% after a promoter raised its stake in the company. Non-bank lender Shriram Finance gained 2.5% on a credit rating upgrade by CARE Ratings, the first such rating action after the MUFG deal

announcement.

Gujarat Kidney and Super Speciality dropped 8.3% on its debut trading session.