Mumbai, Dec 3: The Indian stock market opened on a quiet note on Wednesday, with both benchmark indices showing minimal movement in early trade.

The Sensex inched up by just 12 points to 85,151, while the Nifty slipped 18 points to 26,014.

Most of the major Sensex stocks were trading in the red, dragging the indices sideways. Shares of HUL, Titan, Tata Motors PV, NTPC, BEL, Trent, Bajaj Finserv, Kotak Bank, Ultratech Cement, Maruti Suzuki, L&T, Power Grid, and ITC were among the top losers in the morning session.

Despite the broader weakness, some heavyweights helped limit the downside. TCS, Infosys, Eternal, HCL Tech, Axis Bank, Tech Mahindra, and Adani Ports were trading higher, providing support to the indices.

In the broader market, mid- and small-cap stocks showed resilience. The Nifty MidCap index managed to rise 0.02 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index gained 0.08 per cent after erasing early losses.

Sector-wise, IT and pharma stocks outperformed the market. The Nifty IT index rose 0.7 per cent and the Nifty Pharma index added 0.3 per cent.

These sectors benefited from the Indian Rupee hitting a record low, as many companies in these industries earn a significant part of their revenue in dollars while most of their expenses are in rupees.

On the other hand, PSU bank stocks were under pressure, with the Nifty PSU Bank index falling 0.6 per cent in early trade.

Analysts said that the market remained range-bound as mixed global cues and a weak currency influenced investor sentiment.

“The ideal strategy for investors in this period of uncertainty is to remain invested in high quality growth stocks in the large and midcap segments. Smallcaps, as a segment, continues to be overvalued and are, therefore, best avoided,” market watchers added.

Mumbai: Mumbai woke up to a pleasantly cool Wednesday morning with clear blue skies and a mild winter nip, offering residents a refreshing start to the day. Yet, a dense layer of smog and haze lingered stubbornly over the city, showing a worrying spike in pollution and sharply reduced visibility.

While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast clear skies with temperatures ranging between 16°C and 33°C, the city’s deteriorating air quality overshadowed the otherwise ideal winter conditions.

The pollution surge coincides with the frenetic pace of construction and infrastructure development across Mumbai. Dust from private construction sites and massive government projects, such as metro lines, bridges and road expansions, has majorly contributed to suspended particulate matter in the atmosphere. As these activities intensify, so does the city’s struggle to maintain breathable air.

By today morning, AQI.in recorded Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 257, placing it in the ‘unhealthy’ category. The shift is stark, considering the relatively moderate AQI levels seen earlier in November. Many residents reported symptoms consistent with exposure to high PM2.5 levels, including burning eyes, throat irritation, and a persistent acrid smell in the air. The city’s skyline appeared noticeably faded from several high points, reflecting the widespread impact of the pollution spike.

Multiple areas reported severe air quality levels. Wadala Truck Terminal topped the chart with an alarming AQI of 355, classified as severe. Deonar (320) and Worli (306) followed closely, while Colaba (297) and BKC (290) also hovered near the severe threshold. These locations, already prone to pollution due to heavy traffic and industrial operations, continued to show dangerously high particulate concentrations.

Suburban pockets, though slightly better, did not escape the pollution wave. Kandivali East recorded an AQI of 121 and Powai 140, both in the poor range, while Santacruz (167), Malad West (190), and Bhandup West (193) stayed firmly within the poor-to-unhealthy bracket. Although the AQI varied across neighbourhoods, much of Mumbai remained enveloped in a greyish haze, underscoring the citywide nature of the problem.

To put the numbers in perspective, AQI between 0–50 is classified as Good, 51–100 Moderate, 101–150 Poor, 151–200 Unhealthy, and anything above 200 is considered Hazardous. With several pockets already in the severe zone, the air quality crisis continues to loom large despite the pleasant winter chill.

Mira Road: A grand and grand conference titled “Seerat-un-Nabi ﷺ and Unity of the Ummah” organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Mira Road was held at NH School Ground, in which the extraordinary participation of more than 3500 men and women made it a historic gathering.

The opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Tariq Shah (Ameer of Local Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Mira Road) and it was made clear that the main objective of the conference is to promote unity and solidarity in the Muslim Ummah, to build Islamic character in the light of the Seerat-e-Nabvi ﷺ, and to strengthen the struggle for the revival of the Prophetic mission in the society. He also explained the activities, subsidiary organizations and projects of Jamaat-e-Islami. He said that the main objective of this gathering is to bring the Ummah together at one center in the light of the Seerat-e-Nabvi ﷺ and to strengthen the struggle for positive change in the society.

The presidential address was delivered by Maulana Waliullah Saeedi Falahi, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, which was greatly appreciated by the audience. Maulana said in his address that the success of the Ummah lies in the complete adherence to the Seerat-e-Prophet (peace be upon him). If Muslims adopt the morals, justice, and wisdom of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), then society can become a cradle of peace and justice. He guided in the light of the Seerat-e-Prophet (peace be upon him) and said that religion commands us to be just, honest, and serve the people, and these qualities form the foundation of a strong nation and a developed society.

The general address was delivered by Ameer-e-Halqa of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maharashtra Maulana Ilyas Khan Falahi, Nazim City Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Mumbai Mr. Rashid Khan, Mohtamam Darul Uloom Azizia Maulana Abdullah Qasmi, Imam Haideri Mosque Syed Hassan Imam, and political leader Syed Muzaffar Hussain.

Other speakers shed comprehensive light on important topics such as the role of Muslims in the development and progress of the country, the strength of the family system, the active role of women in Islamic movements, and the mission of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)—propagating the message of religion and forming the best moral character. Finally, the conference in-charge Atta-ul-Haq specially thanked all the participants, social and religious leaders, the public, and the organizational departments—SIO, GIO, and Youth Movement—for their services.
The gathering ended with a heartfelt prayer by Maulana Zakaria Sahib.