Analysts indicate that Indian markets are likely to remain subdued due to weak global indicators . (AI image)
Stock market today
: Indian equity benchmark indices, BSE Sensex and Nifty50, surged in trade on Wednesday. While BSE Sensex rose 900 points, Nifty50 was above 22,350. At 1:03 PM, BSE Sensex was trading at 73,823.61, up 834 points or 1.14%. Nifty50 was at 22,357.90, up 275 points or 1.25%.
Indian stock markets showed positive movement on Wednesday, reflecting gains across Asian markets, following the Nifty’s unprecedented losing streak amidst global trade concerns stemming from the U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
On the Nifty 50, top performers included Mahindra & Mahindra, Power Grid Corporation of India, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and Adani Enterprises.
Sectoral indices showed strength with Nifty IT rising 1.6% and Nifty Auto gaining 1.1%. The Nifty Bank index increased by 0.3%, supported by ICICI Bank’s 1.2% growth.
The Nifty 50 experienced its longest decline since April 1996, falling nearly 16% from its September 2024 peak of 26,277. This represents the sixth-largest decrease since the 2008-09 financial crisis and the second-largest since March 2020’s COVID-19 decline.
Substantial foreign institutional investor (FII) withdrawals exceeding $14 billion in 2025, combined with concerns about U.S. tariff policies and rupee depreciation, have influenced market sentiment. February recorded the Sensex’s fifth consecutive monthly decline, unprecedented since 1996.
The day saw eleven out of thirteen major sectors opening positively, with IT leading the gains. Coforge shares increased by 5.7% following a significant $1.56 billion agreement with Sabre Corp. The broader market indices also improved, with Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 rising by 0.7% and 0.9% respectively.
Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, stated: “Markets drifting down on low volumes don’t indicate a sustained downtrend from the current levels. In the ongoing chaotic scenario, new news and developments can trigger market moves. It would be difficult for the U.S. to get away unscathed from the retaliatory tariffs imposed by China, Canada, and Mexico. Inflation in the U.S. will rise, and the Fed will sound hawkish. A sharp correction in the U.S. stock market is likely. This will hurt Trump’s popularity, and the negative wealth effect of a sharp market correction can aggravate the growth slowdown in the U.S. Soon, the Trump regime will realize this.”
Vijayakumar advised investors to maintain patience and suggested gradual accumulation of fairly valued growth stocks, particularly in domestic consumption sectors like financials and telecom, along with non-U.S. export-oriented automotive segments.
Asian markets showed positive momentum on Wednesday, with the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index rising 1% as investors anticipated potential reduction in US tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods.
Investors keenly observed US President Donald Trump’s congressional address for insights into upcoming tariff decisions.
MSCI’s global equity index remained unchanged, with a 1.9% decline for the week.
Oil prices continued their downward trend for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, affected by global growth worries amidst trade disputes and OPEC+’s April production increase plans.
On Tuesday, FIIs sold equities worth Rs 3,405.82 crore, whilst DIIs acquired stocks worth Rs 4,851.43 crore.
