New Delhi, June 11 -- Defence stocks witnessed sharp selling pressure on Thursday even as the broader Indian stock market traded in positive territory, with investors opting to book profits after the sector's prolonged rally.

The Nifty India Defence Index declined 1.3% during the session, extending losses for the second consecutive trading day after falling 1.5% in the previous session. In comparison, the Nifty 50 index rose 0.3% in today's deals.

The decline came despite continued optimism surrounding the long-term prospects of India's defence industry. Market participants attributed the weakness primarily to profit booking and elevated valuations following the strong run-up seen across defence counters over the past several months.

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