Markets opened on a weak note on Monday, as global trade concerns and mixed corporate earnings weighed on investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex fell over 500 points in early trade, while the Nifty 50 slipped below the 25,550 mark, tracking negative global cues.
Markets turned cautious after renewed fears of trade tensions following comments from US President Donald Trump on possible tariff hikes. This led to selling pressure across global equity markets and prompted investors to reduce exposure to risk-heavy assets.
On the sectoral front, banking, energy and real estate stocks were among the biggest losers. Heavyweights such as Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank declined 2–3 percent, dragging the benchmark indices lower. ICICI Bank shares slipped after reporting a weaker-than-expected quarterly performance, while Reliance faced selling pressure despite stable earnings, as investors booked profits.
Other major losers included stocks from the PSU banking and metal space, as concerns over global growth and foreign fund outflows persisted. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers, adding to market weakness, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) offered limited support.
However, losses were partially capped by gains in IT and pharmaceutical stocks. Shares of leading IT companies moved higher as the rupee weakened slightly against the US dollar, improving export earnings outlook. Select pharma stocks also gained on expectations of steady demand and defensive buying.
In individual stock action, Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) made a strong debut on the stock exchanges, listing at a premium to its issue price. The positive listing reflected healthy investor demand for quality public sector offerings, even amid broader market volatility.
In the broader market, mid-cap and small-cap indices also traded lower, indicating cautious investor mood across segments. Market experts said volatility may remain elevated in the near term due to global economic uncertainties, earnings announcements and geopolitical developments.
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