Profit-taking and cautious risk tone push Sensex down 572 points; Nifty slips 156 as traders await cues

Domestic equities finished weaker, with the Sensex dropping 572 points to 80,891 (-0.70%) and the Nifty sliding 156 points to 24,680 as investors booked profits in oil and banking heavyweights. Market breadth softened through the session amid macro caution and upcoming U.S. Fed commentary, while defensives provided partial offsets. Dealers highlighted stretched short-term technicals after recent rallies, prompting rotation rather than broad de-risking. Derivatives positioning showed puts building near 24,500–24,600. Direction near term will hinge on heavyweight earnings prints, crude swings, and global risk tone into mid-week catalysts that could influence flows and intraday volatility.