The key equity indices traded with modest losses in the morning trade, weighed down by negative global cues. Further, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced a repo rate cut. Governor Malhotra revealed that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6%. The Nifty traded below the 22,450 mark. The weekly Nifty50 Futures & Options (F&O) series expiry has been shifted to today due to the market holiday tomorrow in observance of Shri Mahavir Jayanti.

IT shares tumbled after advancing in the past trading session.

At 10:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 295.49 points or 0.40% to 73,933.57. The Nifty 50 index lost 114.35 points or 0.51% to 22,421.50.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index slipped 1.42% and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index declined 1.49%.

The market breadth was weak. On the BSE, 988 shares rose and 2,357 shares fell. A total of 215 shares were unchanged.

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of the market's expectation of volatility over the near term, advanced 3.84% to 21.23.

Economy:

In India, growth is projected to accelerate to 6.7% in fiscal year (FY) 2025 and 6.8% in FY2026, according to the latest forecast by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Growth in the sub-region is expected to rise from 5.8% in 2024 to 6.0% in 2025 and 6.2% in 2026.

Inflation in India is projected to moderate to 4.3% in FY2025 and 4.0% in FY2026, supported by easing food and global oil prices.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty IT index dropped 2.87% to 32,291.65. The index jumped 1.76% in the past trading session.

Wipro (down 4.65%), Coforge (down 4.02%), Mphasis (down 4.01%), Persistent Systems (down 3.62%), LTIMindtree (down 3.37%), Tech Mahindra (down 3.3%), Infosys (down 2.59%), Oracle Financial Services Software (down 2.43%), HCL Technologies (down 2.31%) and Tata Consultancy Services (down 1.48%) declined.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) declined 1.54%. The company has announced that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the appointment of DK Sunil as chairperson and managing director (MD), effective from 9 April 2025.

NTPC Green Energy lost 0.31%. The company has incorporated NTPC-Mahapreit Green Energy as a 74:26 joint venture of the company. This has been done along with the inclusion of Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology.

Concord Biotech shed 0.01%. The company received approval from the USFDA for marketing 7 mg and 14 mg Teriflunomide Tablets. Teriflunomide tablets are used for treating patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.