Mumbai, March 13 -- Domestic equity benchmarks closed with slight losses on Thursday. The Nifty fell below 22,400 after reaching an intraday high of 22,558.05. Volatility was elevated due to weekly index option expiry on the NSE. Despite positive global cues initially pushing markets higher, selling pressure in heavyweight stocks across sectors dragged the Nifty down. All major indices, except banking, finished lower, with realty, auto, and metal sectors experiencing the steepest declines. Broader indices also retreated, each losing nearly 1%.

The S&P BSE Sensex declined 200.85 points, or 0.27%, to 73,828.91. The Nifty 50 index lost 73.30 points, or 0.33%, to 22,397.20.

Tata Motors (down 1.95%), Bajaj Finance (down 0.94%) and Reliance I...