Stock Market Today: Nifty, Sensex Open Flat as Volatility Spikes; PSU Bank, Auto Stocks Lead Decline

India’s key stock market indices — Nifty 50 and Sensex — started on a subdued note on Tuesday, April 30, as traders appeared to take a breather after the sharp rally seen earlier in the month. The mood remained cautious as volatility spiked and select sectoral indices came under pressure.

At 9:23 AM, the Sensex slipped by 71 points to 80,217, while the Nifty 50 dipped 15 points to 24,320. Market breadth tilted towards the negative, with 1,671 stocks declining, compared to 836 advancing on the broader exchanges.

Midcaps, Smallcaps Take a Bigger Hit

The broader markets underperformed the headline indices. The Nifty Midcap 100 fell by 0.2%, while the Nifty Smallcap index dropped over 0.5%, reflecting a stronger selling sentiment in non-large-cap segments.

PSU Bank and Auto Stocks Crack Early

On the sectoral front, the market showed a mixed picture. The Nifty Auto and PSU Bank indices were the worst performers, each falling over 1.4% in early trade. On the other hand, FMCG, IT, and pharma stocks provided some support, helping to cushion the overall decline.

India VIX Spikes – Volatility on the Rise

The India VIX, a key indicator of market volatility, rose by 2% to 17.73, indicating that investors are bracing for heightened uncertainty in the days ahead.

“Bulls are taking a pause after a nearly 10% rally from monthly lows,” observed analysts, adding that the market has remained range-bound over the past five sessions.

Geopolitics, Earnings, and U.S. Data Keep Markets Nervous

Analysts expect volatility to persist, with multiple factors in play — including geopolitical tensions, global tariff developments, and India’s ongoing Q4 earnings season. Additionally, key economic data from the U.S. could add further uncertainty in the short term.

Positive Global Cues but Domestic Sentiment Cautious

Despite the cautious start at home, global market cues remained positive. Overnight, Wall Street closed higher, with the Dow Jones up 0.75%, S&P 500 up 0.58%, and Nasdaq gaining 0.55%.

In Asia, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Hong Kong markets opened higher, though South Korea’s Kospi was down 0.5%, showing a mixed regional sentiment.

FIIs Turn Aggressive Buyers

One silver lining for Indian equities has been the return of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs). They have invested over ₹37,300 crore across 10 sessions, including ₹2,385 crore on April 29 alone. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) also remained buyers, adding ₹1,369 crore worth of equities.

“The weakness of the dollar and India’s economic resilience are supporting this FII’s India trade,” said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

Key Technical Levels to Watch

Technically, markets are stuck in a consolidation zone, with analysts warning that the upside breakout near 24,350–24,400 failed to sustain.

“If Nifty crosses 24,450, we may see a rally towards 24,600,” said Shrikant Chouhan of Kotak Securities.
“But if it slips below 24,250, a quick correction towards 24,100 could follow,” he added.

Outlook

With multiple domestic and global cues unfolding, traders are advised to remain cautious. The recent rally has given way to profit booking and heightened volatility, and until a clear breakout or breakdown is seen, consolidation may continue in the near term.