Benchmarks take a breather, Nifty holds 26,170; VIX slips below 12 mark

The domestic equities closed slightly lower on Friday, snapping a recent rally fueled by the U.S. interest rate cut. Energy, healthcare, and pharma sectors led the gains, while media, real estate, and private banks lagged. Despite the minor setback, the market's overall upward momentum remains strong, supported by ample domestic liquidity.