Mumbai, Jan. 14 -- Benchmark equity indices closed lower for a second straight session on Wednesday as profit booking, foreign institutional selling, and F&O contract expiry on the BSE weighed on sentiment.

Investors tracked progress on the India-US trade agreement, ongoing Q3 earnings results, and global geopolitical developments, while remaining cautious ahead of a US Supreme Court ruling on the legality of President Donald Trump's tariff measures.

The Nifty slipped below the 25,700 level. IT and automobile stocks led the declines, while metal stocks and PSU banks attracted buying interest.

The S&P BSE Sensex slipped 244.98 points or 0.29% to 83,382.71. The Nifty 50 index lost 66.70 points or 0.26% to 25,665.60. In two consecutive tr...