Indian benchmark indices ended almost unchanged amid volatility on the F&O expiry day, as investors remained cautious over elevated crude oil prices, renewed geopolitical tensions and the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision due later this week.

At close, the Sensex was down 8.08 points or 0.01 percent at 73,598.67, and the Nifty was down 3.45 points or 0.02 percent at 22,749.75.

The broader markets outperformed the main indices with Nifty midcap index adding 0.8 percent and smallcap index rising 2.7 percent.

On the sectoral front, Media index up 3.6%, Realty and Pharma added 2% each and Auto index up 1.4%, while IT, Oil & Gas, Private Bank down 0.5% each.

Biggest Nifty gainers were Tata Consumer Products, Bharti Airtel, Trent, BSE Limited, Power Grid Corporation, while losers included Grasim Industries, SBI, Coal India, TCS and Asian Paints.

Among individual stocks, Transformers and Rectifiers (India) shares gained 5% after the company announced a Rs 1,250 crore investment to establish three greenfield manufacturing plants in Gujarat, while Highway Infrastructure shares rose 20% after receiving a letter of award (LOA) worth Rs 91.78 crore from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Sigma Advanced Systems advanced 5% after securing an order worth Rs 973 crore from a NATO customer, while Genus Power Infrastructures gained 3% after approving a buyback.

Raymond Realty shares jumped 4% following a Rs 210 crore investment agreement with ICICI Prudential Real Estate Development Fund, while Tata Consumer Products rose 6% after reporting strong Q2 earnings. Ather Energy shares advanced 6% after HSBC maintained its 'buy' rating and raised the target price to Rs 1,800 per share.Sona BLW Precision Forgings and KFin Technologies shares rose 4-8% following their Q2 earnings announcements.

On the downside, Aequs shares plunged 9% after its Q2 consolidated loss widened to Rs 52.3 crore, while Dalmia Bharat declined 6% after HSBC downgraded the stock to 'hold'. REC declined 3% after its Q2 consolidated profit fell.

The Indian rupee ended 7 paise higher at 95.12 per dollar on Tuesday, compared with the previous close of 95.19.

Nearly 180 stocks touched 52-week low, including Dalmia Bharat, Sumitomo, REC, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, IRB Infrastructure Developers, Dabur India, IRCTC, CESC, PI Industries and Afcons Infrastructure, among others.