Equity benchmarks ended lower on Tuesday, extending their losing streak for the tenth consecutive session, as global trade tensions and foreign selling weighed on sentiment. The Sensex closed at 72,989.93, down 96.01 points or 0.13 per cent, while the Nifty fell 36.65 points or 0.17 per cent to settle at 22,082.65.
Markets opened on a weak note following escalating trade tensions after the US confirmed tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, prompting retaliatory measures. The continued selling by foreign institutional investors (FIIs), with outflows nearing $13 billion in 2025, further dampened sentiment.
“The market saw a mild recovery despite negative headlines related to tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty. The 22,000 level remains a crucial support, attracting buyers,” said Bhavik Patel, Sr. Research Analyst, Tradebulls Securities.
Broader market performance
The broader indices had a mixed session. Nifty Next 50 gained 0.56 per cent, closing at 57,966.85, while Nifty Midcap Select fell 0.30 per cent to 10,833.65. The Nifty Bank index rose 0.27 per cent to 48,245.20, and Nifty Financial Services added 0.33 per cent to 23,028.45.
Among individual stocks, State Bank of India led the gainers, rising 3.03 per cent to ₹716.4, followed by Bharat Petroleum Corp, which advanced 2.97 per cent to ₹249.6. Bharat Electronics gained 2.80 per cent, while Shriram Finance and Adani Enterprises rose 2.03 per cent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.
On the losing side, Bajaj Auto fell 4.95 per cent to ₹7,332.95, followed by Hero MotoCorp (HEROMOTOCO), which declined 3.34 per cent. Bajaj Finserv, HCL Technologies, and Eicher Motors lost between 2-3 per cent.
Market breadth showed 2,221 stocks advancing, 1,737 declining, and 128 remained unchanged on the BSE, with 54 stocks hitting a 52-week high, while 572 stocks touched 52-week lows.
Global cues and technical outlook
“The market opened below 22,000 but managed to hold the level, signalling short-term support. However, a decisive break below 21,800 could accelerate the downside,” said Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities.
Analysts pointed out that sectors exposed to global trade — auto, IT, and pharma — underperformed, while banking and metals stocks showed resilience.
Ajit Mishra, SVP, Research, Religare Broking, stated, “Markets remained lacklustre with mixed sectoral trends. Banking, financials, and metals showed strength, while auto and IT dragged. Selective buying is limiting the downside.”
Mid, small-cap outlook
Small and midcap stocks remained volatile amid profit-booking. Abhishek Jaiswal, Fund Manager at Finavenue, noted, “The decline in midcaps is a result of profit-booking after a strong rally. While volatility persists, quality midcaps remain strong. Investors should focus on fundamentals rather than reacting to short-term fluctuations.”
Rupee and commodities
The rupee appreciated slightly to ₹87.27 per dollar, gaining 0.04 against the greenback. “The rupee saw minor gains as DII inflows countered persistent FII selling. Soft crude oil prices also offered support,” said Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst, LKP Securities.
Gold prices remained firm, with COMEX gold rising over 1 per cent to $2,920, while MCX gold gained ₹700, driven by safe-haven demand amid tariff tensions.
Outlook and market strategy
“Markets are trading near key support zones of 21,800-22,000 on Nifty and 72,300-72,800 on Sensex. A sharp recovery from these levels could trigger a reversal, but a close below 21,800 would be negative,” said Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research, Kotak Securities.
With global trade concerns, FII selling, and technical levels in focus, investors are advised to stay selective while keeping a cautious stance on markets in the near term.