Markets Plunge Ahead of Dec Expiry; Nifty Dips Below 26,000 Amid Broad Selling

• Indian equity markets closed lower on Friday due to investor caution ahead of the December series derivatives expiry.
• Sensex fell 346 points to 84,696, while Nifty declined 100 points, closing at 25,942 and slipping below the 26,000 mark.
• Selling pressure was widespread, with midcap index falling 313 points and 35 Nifty constituents ending in red; financial stocks showed resilience.
• Rail-related stocks like IRFC and RVNL fell ~5%, and EMS stocks such as Dixon Technologies and Amber Enterprises saw continued selling.
• FMCG stocks (Tata Consumer Products, Asian Paints) and Oil Marketing Companies (HPCL, BPCL) were among the few gainers.

Why It Matters: Indian markets ended lower with Nifty below 26,000, driven by expiry caution and broad selling.