Markets closed lower on Wednesday, caught between rising crude oil prices, the shock resignation of Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, and investor caution ahead of closely watched inflation data from India and the United States. The Nifty Midcap 100 bucked the trend, gaining 0.28 per cent and touching a fresh all-time high, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 declined 0.18 per cent. Sentiment was weak despite Asian stocks gained, led by Korea’s Kospi that surged nearly 4 per cent. TCS fell around 4 per cent, while Tata Motors and Tata Consumer Products declined roughly 2.5 per cent and 1.5 per cent, respectively. The print keeps the RBI’s projected inflation path on track, narrowing the window for any dovish policy surprise.