Stock market today, Aug. 27 -- The Indian equity benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty 50, closed lower on Wednesday, 26 August, as investors resorted to profit booking ahead of the release of key US inflation data. The Sensex dropped 183 points, or 0.24%, to end at 77,472.94, while the Nifty 50 declined 127 points, or 0.52%, to settle at 24,207.75.

On Monday, the market is likely to open lower as the Gift Nifty index signalled a negative opening. Gift Nifty was trading near the 24,358.5 mark, down over 70 points from the previous close of Nifty futures.

"Indian markets are positioned for a largely flat opening on Thursday, with the day's direction likely to be shaped more by domestic positioning than by global cues. The Sensex monthly expiry is...