Mumbai: Indian stock markets ended on a cautious note today, as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of key quarterly earnings and macroeconomic data releases next week.

The BSE Sensex closed down by 382 points, settling near the 77,100 mark, while the NSE Nifty 50 fell 124 points to end slightly below 23,450. The broader market, represented by the Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices, also witnessed mild profit booking after recent rallies.

📉 Key sector moves:

• IT stocks led the fall, with Infosys and TCS sliding over 2% each, as investors turned cautious before Q1 results.
• Banking & financials saw mixed moves; heavyweights like HDFC Bank stayed flat, while smaller lenders slipped slightly.
• FMCG stocks bucked the trend, with Hindustan Unilever and Britannia gaining modestly, driven by defensive buying.

📊 Expert insight:
Market analyst Amit Kothari said:

“The Nifty has slipped below its 20-day moving average, signaling caution. With big IT earnings ahead, traders prefer to book profits rather than chase fresh highs.”

🚀 IPO buzz:
Excitement continues in the primary market, with Anthem Biosciences IPO opening this week, aiming to raise over ₹1,600 crore. Analysts expect strong retail interest despite the cautious mood in secondary markets.

⚠️ Looking ahead:
All eyes will be on:

• IT sector Q1 results
• Inflation data
• Foreign institutional investor (FII) activity
• Global cues including US economic numbers and oil price movement