In a day marked by minimal movement, the Sensex opened flat, showing a slight gain of 0.05% to trade at 83,501.39. The index remains 2.16% shy of its 52-week high of 85,290.06, indicating a stable yet cautious market environment. Large-cap stocks led the way, with Asian Paints emerging as the top gainer, rising by 4.56%. Mid-cap stocks also saw positive movement, with Astral gaining 5.30%. However, the small-cap segment experienced more volatility, highlighted by Blue Cloud Soft's impressive 14.17% increase. On the downside, Hindalco Industries was the largest loser among large caps, declining by 7.17%, while Delhivery and Worth Investment fell by 6.90% and 19.95%, respectively, in the mid and small-cap categories. Overall, the market faced challenges, with 32 out of 38 sectors declining. The NIFTYMEDIA sector was the hardest hit, dropping by 2.24%, while the BSE CD sector managed a modest gain of 0.62%. The advance-decline ratio across the BSE500 reflected a bearish sentiment, with 95 advances against 404 declines.