Equity indices inched down on Friday, snapping a two-day winning streak as investors booked profits amid a scarcity of fresh positive cues. Sentiment was further weighed down by the latest US jobs data failed to provide clarity on the US Fed rate cut.

Market sentiment was further undermined by a soft manufacturing PMI reading, a weakening rupee and growing worries over potential delays in India–US trade discussions, Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments, said.

After a volatile trading session, the benchmark indices ended near their intraday lows. BSE Sensex was dragged by 400.76 points or 0.47 per cent to close at 85,231.92, while the Nifty 50 fell 124 points or 0.47 per cent to 26,068.15, holding above the 26,000 level.

Despite the negative close, markets remain near all tim

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