Indian stock markets opened slightly lower on Friday, tracking weak global cues and subdued investor sentiment.
Negative signals from US markets and concerns over the fading possibility of a December rate cut by the US Federal Reserve contributed to the cautious opening.
At 9.25 AM, the Sensex fell by 80 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 85,551, while the Nifty slipped 15 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 25,860.
The broader market indices followed a similar trend, with the Nifty Midcap 100 down 0.30 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 declining 0.34 per cent.
Among the Nifty constituents, TCS, Asian Paints, and NTPC emerged as the top gainers, offering some support to the index.
However, Hindalco, Shriram Finance, Tata Steel, and ICICI Bank weighed on market performance as they traded in the red.
On the NSE, most sectoral indices opened lower except Nifty Auto, which was up 0.30 per cent.
Nifty Metal was the biggest loser, falling 0.79 per cent as global commodity prices eased.
Global Pressure Weighs on Sentiment
Analysts observed that India could gain in the medium term if the global AI trade slows and capital shifts towards non-AI sectors in emerging markets.
They added that the current volatility reflects broader uncertainty in global financial markets.
Major Asia–Pacific markets recorded sharp declines in early trading after US tech and AI stocks saw significant selling pressure.
Investors reacted negatively as hopes of a US Fed rate cut diminished.
The Nasdaq, considered a key indicator of AI-related market activity, ended the day down 2.15 per cent, plunging 4.4 per cent from its intraday high.
Analysts warned that such steep movements point to heightened volatility in the near future. They expect fresh buying in AI stocks at lower valuations, but stressed the need to monitor market stability.
Global Market Highlights
US markets closed in negative territory overnight. The Nasdaq slipped 2.16 per cent, the S&P 500 dropped 1.56 per cent, and the Dow fell 0.84 per cent.
Asian markets also mirrored this decline. China’s Shanghai index dipped 1.71 per cent, while Shenzhen fell 2.52 per cent.
Japan’s Nikkei lost 2.31 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 2.17 per cent, and South Korea’s Kospi dropped sharply by 3.94 per cent.
On Thursday, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth ₹284 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers with purchases totalling ₹824 crore.
This mixed activity further contributed to the cautious sentiment as markets opened.
The day ahead may continue to reflect global volatility, with investors watching US economic signals and global market movements closely.
Also Read: New Gifting Platform ‘Shubhkamnayeh’ Set For Launch At Bharat Mandapam On November 30
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
