Sensex falls 97 pts on relentless foreign fund outflows

Market Performance - Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed lower, marking the eighth consecutive session of decline due to foreign fund outflows and caution ahead of the RBI's interest rate decision [1][3] - The BSE Sensex declined by 97.32 points or 0.12% to settle at 80,267.62, with a high of 80,677.82 and a low of 80,201.15 during the day [3] - In eight trading days, the Sensex has decreased by 2,746.34 points or 3.30% [3] - The NSE Nifty fell by 23.80 points or 0.10% to 24,611.10 [3] Sector Performance - Metal and banking stocks advanced, while realty and consumer durables faced selling pressure [5] - Major laggards among Sensex firms included ITC, Bharti Airtel, Trent, Bajaj Finserv, Titan, and Reliance Industries [5] - Major gainers included UltraTech Cement, Adani Ports, Tata Motors, Bharat Electronics, Bajaj Finance, and Hindustan Unilever [5] Foreign Investment Activity - Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 2,831.59 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought stocks worth Rs 3,845.87 crore [7] Upcoming Events - The RBI rate-setting panel's decision is expected to be announced on Wednesday [8]