March 12, 2026 – Indian benchmarks accelerated losses in late trade, with the Nifty 50 declining 0.7% below 24,250 and the Sensex shedding 550 points near 79,100, led by a brutal auto sector pullback and FII outflows exceeding ₹2,300 crore. Rural demand jitters and input cost spikes amplified the slide, though pockets of bargain hunting in niche small-caps provided counterbalance.
While 20 Nifty heavyweights dragged the index, over 60 stocks hit lower circuits in mid- and small-caps, underscoring manufacturing fragility. Conversely, more than 50 names locked upper bands, reflecting selective rotation into undervalued infra and consumer plays.
| Category | Top Symbols (by Impact) | LTP | %Chng | Volume (Lakhs) | Value (₹ Cr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty Losers | M&M | 3049.9 | -3.73 | 339.75 | 10429.47 |
| EICHERMOT | 6984.0 | -3.72 | 62.01 | 4375.23 | |
| MARUTI | 13108 | -2.88 | 29.43 | 3881.98 | |
| Lower Circuits | AXISCADES | 1391.70 | -4.53 | 1.79 | 24.89 |
| UFBL | 208.02 | -6.98 | 2.64 | 5.47 | |
| SILVERTUC | 116.60 | -4.11 | 2.44 | 2.84 | |
| Upper Circuits | CONFIPET | 35.49 | 19.98 | 70.59 | 24.30 |
| REGAAL | 86.09 | 17.80 | 188.10 | 157.76 | |
| STALLION | 115.00 | 4.99 | 15.53 | 17.37 |
- M&M led Nifty declines with a 3.73% plunge to ₹3,049.90 on ₹10,429.47 crore turnover, as inventory buildup and EV subsidy delays eroded sentiment in the auto index.
- Eicher Motors and Maruti Suzuki followed with 3.72% and 2.88% drops to ₹6,984 and ₹13,108 respectively, on combined volumes exceeding 91 lakh shares, highlighting two-wheeler and passenger vehicle demand cracks.
- Axiscades triggered a 5% lower circuit at ₹1,391.70 amid ₹24.89 crore trade, while UFBL sank 6.98% to a 10% band at ₹208.02, amplifying engineering and footwear sector woes.
- Confipet bucked the trend, locking a 19.98% upper circuit at ₹35.49 on 70.59 lakh shares worth ₹24.30 crore, driven by pet product export buzz; Regaal surged 17.80% to ₹86.09 on explosive ₹157.76 crore volume.
