After starting the day on a negative note, the benchmarks dragged further as the session progressed and ended the day on a weak note.Benchmark equity indices, BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50, ended the Wednesday session in negative territory.At the closing bell, the BSE Sensex stood lower by 502 points (down 0.6%).Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty closed lower by 137 points (down 0.6%).Cipla, Trent, and Wipro were the top gainers today.NTPC, Tata Motors, and JSW Steel on the other hand, were among the top losers today.The GIFT Nifty ended at 24,255 down by 175 points.The BSE Mid Cap ended flat and the BSE Small Cap index ended 0.6% lower.Barring the IT sector most sectoral indices are trading negatively with stocks in the metal sector, power sector, and capital goods sector witnessing selling pressure.The rupee is trading at 84.94 against the US$.Gold prices for the latest contract on MCX are trading flat at Rs 76,880 per 10 grams.Meanwhile, silver prices are trading 0.2% lower at Rs 90,725 per 1 kg.Here are three reasons why Indian Markets are falling today#1 Sectoral IndicesMost sectoral indices suffered losses on Wednesday. The Nifty Media index cracked over 2%, while the Nifty PSU Bank index fell 2%. Nifty Bank, Financial Services, Private Bank, and Metal indices suffered losses of over 1% each.#2 Global PressureGlobal markets are on edge ahead of the outcome of the US Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting. While the Fed is widely expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, uncertainty looms over its future policy stance.Adding to the jitters, the US Dow Jones Industrial Average fell for the ninth straight session on Tuesday, marking its longest losing streak since February 1978.#3 Rupee Hits Record LowThe Indian rupee, under pressure for the last few months, sank to a new low of 84.94 against the dollar on 18 December, just 6 paise shy of the 85 mark.The rupee opened at 84.92 against the dollar, 2 paise down from 84.90 against the previous close.#4 FII OutflowA massive sell-off by FIIs has dampened the mood in Indian markets. On Tuesday, FIIs offloaded equities worth Rs 64.1 bn, contributing to the bearish sentiment.
 Why NMDC Share Price is FallingShares of NMDC, steel stocks faced selling pressure on 18 December as the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government tabled a bill to tax mines and mining land.NMDC, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, SAIL stocks were trading in red, with NMDC stock bearing the brunt of the fall by falling 5% as a media report reported that the Karnataka government might hike duty on iron ore.Karnataka is an important state for NMDC as it contributes to nearly 35% of the overall mix for the company.Earlier this month, the Karnataka Cabinet approved the Karnataka (Mineral Rights and Mineral Bearing Land) Tax Bill, 2024, to make provisions for levy and collection of tax on exercise of mineral rights and on mineral-bearing land by the State government.Steel companies are likely to be impacted due to higher iron ore costs.JSW Steel shares were trading nearly 2% lower while those of SAIL were trading 1.74% lower on 18 December.The Supreme Court earlier had already approved states to collect mining taxes retrospectively from 2005.Gold Outshines NiftyGold has delivered returns of over 20% in 2024, which is not only higher than the returns given by headline indices Nifty and the BSE Sensex in the period but also superior to its own performance in the previous two years.A fragile geopolitical order, central bank buying and economic headwinds across the globe have kept the yellow metal on the boil. It is, however, up against formidable challenges in the form of strengthening US dollar and cryptocurrencies in 2025, opined experts.Nifty and Sensex gains so far this year have been to the tune of 12%.Gold prices are poised to end the year with a hefty gain of more than 20% in the domestic market and nearly 27% in the international market – its third consecutive year of positive close.
 Bharti Hexacom Rallies 11%Bharti Hexacom share price hit a record high of Rs 1,606.2 as it surged 11% on the BSE in Wednesday’s intraday trade, in an otherwise weak market, on a healthy outlook.The stock of the telecom services provider surpassed its previous high of Rs 1,565.4, which it touched on 27 September 2024.Currently, Bharti Hexacom’s share price has more than doubled, zooming 182 percent against its issue price of Rs 570 per share. The company made its stock market debut on 12 April 2024.Bharti Hexacom is a communications solutions provider offering consumer mobile services, fixed-line telephone ,and broadband services to customers in the Rajasthan and the North East telecommunication circles in India.Under the brand ‘Airtel’, Bharti Hexacom launched India’s first network-based, AI-powered spam detection solution to curb the spam menace.A first-of-its-kind solution by a telecom service provider in the country, the tool alerts customers in real-time on all suspected spam calls and SMSes.More By This Author:Sensex Today Trades Marginally Lower; Nifty Below 24,350
Sensex Today Tanks 1,064 Points; Nifty Ends Below 23,350
Sensex Today Trades Lower; Nifty Below 24,650