Sensex slides 427 pts, Nifty ends below 24,350, M&M drops 6.6%

The domestic stocks closed slightly lower on Wednesday after setting new record highs earlier in the day. The Nifty ended below 24,350, despite early gains. Sectors like pharma, healthcare and FMCG saw buying interest, while autos and metals sold off. Analysts see this pullback as a natural pause ahead of crucial Q1 earnings reports and the upcoming union budget, potentially setting the stage for future growth.