Mumbai, Aug. 26 -- The equity markets ended lower on Wednesday, with the Nifty 50 declining 0.52 per cent and the Sensex falling 0.24 per cent, as weakness in IT, auto, FMCG and consumer durables stocks offset gains in banking and metal shares.

The Nifty 50 index closed at 24,207.75, down 126.80 points or 0.52 per cent, while the BSE Sensex closed at 77,472.94, declining 183.15 points or 0.24 per cent.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said the domestic market gave up its early gains as sectoral divergence weighed on the benchmarks.

"Inflation concerns receded on tempered US sanctions on Iran, easing domestic bond yields and lifting banking stocks, while metals gained on better realisation prospects. However, th...