FX.co ★ Sensex Closes Lower

India’s BSE Sensex slipped 0.3% to close at 76,478.7 on Tuesday, marking a second consecutive session of losses, as caution over US–Iran negotiations and profit-taking ahead of the June-quarter earnings season weighed on sentiment. IT and financial stocks led the decline, while auto shares outperformed.

Among major IT names, Infosys, TCS, HCLTech and Tech Mahindra fell between 2.1% and 3.5%, pressured by concerns over the prospect of higher-for-longer US interest rates. Other key laggards included ITC (-1.3%), Hindustan Unilever (-1.3%), State Bank of India (-0.9%), Axis Bank (-0.9%), ICICI Bank (-0.8%) and Tata Steel (-0.8%).

In contrast, Maruti Suzuki was the session’s top gainer, jumping 5.1% after global brokerage Jefferies upgraded the stock to “Buy” from “Hold” and raised its target price. Titan, Bajaj Finance, Eicher Motors and Adani Ports also recorded solid advances, rising between 1.9% and 2.9%.

Despite the day’s weakness, the benchmark index ended the month up 2.3% and has risen 6.3% on a quarterly basis.