Synopsis : Indian equity markets witnessed a sharp fall on Friday as Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcements rattled global investors. With IT, pharma, and metal stocks bearing the brunt, Sensex fell over 600 points while Nifty slipped below the crucial 23,000 mark.
The Indian stock market opened sharply lower on Friday, mirroring the global panic triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff stance. The BSE Sensex nosedived over 600 points, while the Nifty 50 slipped below the psychological 23,000 mark, sending strong shockwaves across Dalal Street.
As of early trade, Tata Motors, Infosys, Tata Steel, L&T, and Tech Mahindra led the declines, plummeting by up to 3.5%. Meanwhile, HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finance, and M&M managed to hold ground with modest gains.
Trump's blanket 10% import tariff, coupled with steeper levies on nations like India, China, Japan, and the EU, has reignited fears of a global trade war. Markets reacted violently — Wall Street logged its worst one-day loss since 2020, erasing $2.4 trillion in market cap, while Japan’s Nikkei dropped 3%.
Sectoral carnage was visible across the board, with Nifty Metal plunging 5.3%, Pharma down 6.2%, and steep losses seen in IT, Auto, Realty, and Oil & Gas, each declining between 2% and 4%. Pharma stocks like Lupin, Laurus Labs, and Aurobindo Pharma fell as much as 7% after Trump hinted at targeted tariffs on pharmaceutical imports.
Adding to the gloom, Reliance Industries—a heavyweight—dragged the indices further into the red, compounding the market pressure.
However, not all was bleak. HDFC Bank rose over 1% following a positive Q4 business update, and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) rallied up to 4% as crude oil prices eased after OPEC+ unexpectedly ramped up production.
Global Market Snapshot:
S&P 500 dropped sharply, losing $2.4 trillion in market value.
Gold prices rose, eyeing their fifth straight weekly gain as investors moved to safe-haven assets.
Asian markets slipped post-Wall Street crash.
Oil prices dropped following OPEC+’s production hike announcement.
With the global economic outlook now under a cloud, Indian investors are expected to adopt a cautious stance heading into the weekend. The focus remains on further cues from the US, especially any additional policy signals from the Trump administration.
Disclaimer : This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Readers are advised to consult a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
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