Indian equity benchmarks opened the week on a weak note on Monday, tracking subdued global cues amid renewed concerns over international trade tensions. Both the BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty 50 began the session in the red as investors turned cautious in the absence of strong domestic triggers.
At around 9:17 a.m., the Sensex was trading at 83,218, down 352 points or 0.42 per cent, while the Nifty 50 slipped 109 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 25,585. Market sentiment had already pointed to a soft start, with index futures indicating losses of nearly 150 points ahead of the opening bell.
Market expert Ajay Bagga said the current environment is marked by weak global risk appetite and limited positive cues. He attributed the pressure largely to escalating trade-related frictions and continued selling by foreign portfolio investors.
“Indian markets are pointing to a weak start with tariff-related concerns impacting global risk sentiment,” Bagga said, adding that FPI outflows have extended into 2026, while corporate earnings for the current quarter have been mixed.
Global attention, he noted, has shifted to the United States, where President Donald Trump has threatened to impose punitive tariffs on eight European countries. According to Bagga, the proposed tariffs—10 per cent from February 1, rising to 25 per cent from June 1—have unsettled global markets and weighed on equities, even as safe-haven assets such as precious metals saw gains.
Bagga also pointed to weak fourth-quarter GDP growth data from China as another factor pressuring Asian markets in early trade.
“With earnings mixed so far and global risk sentiment remaining weak, markets are lacking a clear catalyst at the start of the week,” he said. (ANI)
