Indian Equity Benchmarks Open Lower As Geopolitical Tensions Weigh On Markets

Indian equity benchmarks slipped in early trade on Thursday, pausing after a strong rally in the previous session as investors turned cautious due to rising geopolitical uncertainty.

The BSE Sensex dropped over 500 points in the opening phase, touching an intraday low near 77,000, while the Nifty 50 declined by around 180 points to trade below 23,900.

The weakness followed reports of renewed tensions in West Asia after Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising concerns about potential disruptions to key oil routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.

Selling pressure was visible across major sectors, with IT, banking, real estate and automobile stocks leading the decline.

Several frontline companies, including Infosys, HCLTech, Axis Bank and Mahindra & Mahindra, were among the notable laggards in early deals.

Market participants remained wary, with analysts advising restraint at higher levels and suggesting investors consider selective buying during dips rather than aggressive positioning. They also pointed to the continuing contrast between foreign and domestic institutional activity as a key factor influencing market direction.

Volatility indicators eased slightly, with the India VIX hovering below recent highs, signalling relatively lower market anxiety even as short-term fluctuations persist.

Mixed Institutional Flows

Institutional flow data reflected mixed sentiment. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued to offload equities, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) provided support through sustained buying in the previous session.

Global cues remained mixed. Crude oil prices climbed sharply, with Brent nearing the $98 per barrel mark and US West Texas Intermediate also posting strong gains, driven by supply concerns linked to geopolitical developments.

Across Asia, key indices such as the Nikkei, Hang Seng and KOSPI traded in negative territory. In contrast, US markets had ended the previous session on a strong note, with major indices closing over 2 per cent higher.

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