Sensex, Nifty Extend Fall as Tariff Fears Spook Markets
Sensex, Nifty Extend Fall as Tariff Fears Spook Markets
Indian benchmarks slide for a fifth straight session amid tariff worries and foreign fund outflows, with select tech and energy stocks cushioning the decline.
Indian benchmarks slipped for the fifth consecutive session on Friday, dragged lower by broad selling as tariff hikes and geopolitical tensions stoked risk-off sentiment. The Sensex fell 604.72 points, or 0.72%, to 83,576.24 after an intraday dip of 778.68 points to 83,402.28, while the Nifty declined 193.55 points, or 0.75%, to 25,683.30.
From the 30-Sensex firms, NTPC, ICICI Bank, Adani Ports, Bharti Airtel, Sun Pharma and Bajaj Finance were among the biggest laggards. Yet, Asian Paints, HCL Tech, Bharat Electronics and Reliance Industries eked out gains, highlighting a selective market strength even as mood remained cautious.
Foreign institutional investors offloaded equities worth ₹3,367.12 crore on Thursday, with domestic institutional investors buying ₹3,701.17 crore, underscoring the tug-of-war between capital flight and domestic support. Domestic risk-off sentiment has intensified amid uncertainty surrounding U.S.-India tariff negotiations and escalating geopolitical tensions.
Over the past four sessions, the BSE benchmark has tanked about 1,581.05 points (1.84%), while the Nifty slid roughly 451.7 points (1.71%). In global peers, some Asian indices closed higher as U.S. markets showed mixed signals, but the domestic mood remained fragile ahead of earnings season. Analysts expect heightened volatility to persist until there is clearer guidance on tariff talks and external risk factors.
Investors remain cautious about the near-term direction, awaiting fresh cues from earnings reports and any new development in tariff negotiations that could define the next leg for Indian equities.
