The BSE Sensex fell 137 points, or 0.2%, to 84,542 in a volatile morning trading session, down for the third consecutive day, after mixed US jobs data failed to move the needle on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook. Persistent foreign outflows and a depreciation in the rupee also continued to pressure sentiment, along with uncertainty over a US-India trade deal. Traders also assessed a statement from India’s central bank governor, Sanjay Malhotra, to the Financial Times that signaled interest rates would stay low for a prolonged period. Financial services, banking, and consumer durables mainly weighed on the broader index. However, the decline was capped by gains in technology, metals, auto, and oil and gas stocks. Meanwhile, the Nifty 50 edged down 0.2%, while mid-cap and small-cap stocks fell 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. Among the early losers were ICICI Bank (-1.4%), IndusInd Bank (-0.9%), HDFC Bank (-0.7%), Adani Ports (-0.5%), and Bharti Airtel (-0.3%).
