Sensex and Nifty Decline as IT, Auto Stocks Weigh on Markets
About 1,808 stocks are advancing against 886 declining stocks, thus indicating a positive sentiment in the broader market.
Market Update at 10:25 AM: Indian benchmark indices declined on Friday, weighed down by losses in IT and auto stocks, as investor sentiment turned cautious ahead of the upcoming U.S. reciprocal tariff announcements next week.
At 10:15 a.m., the benchmark indices were trading in negative territory; Sensex slipped to the by 140 points or 0.18 per cent, while Nifty 50 traded above the 23,500 mark, down by 70 points or 0.29 per cent.
Other Asian markets fell, dragged by auto stocks, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on automotive imports, due to kick in next week. Trump is set to introduce retaliatory tariffs on April 2, though the U.S. administration has suggested that some tariffs may not be imposed.
On the sectoral front, 7 out of 17 sectors recorded gains, with Oil & Gas stocks leading the gains while IT stocks dragged the index down.
In today’s trade, India VIX slipped below 13 mark, down by 3.8 per cent, indicating a decrease in market volatility.
About 1,808 stocks are advancing against 886 declining stocks, thus indicating a positive sentiment in the broader market.
Pre-Market Update at 7:45 AM: Indian stock market indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to start lower on Friday, influenced by weak global cues as concerns over trade and tariff conflicts weighed on investor sentiment. Gift Nifty was hovering near 23,758, trading at a slight discount of about 20 points compared to the previous close of Nifty futures. This suggests a subdued opening for the Indian stock market indices.
The US stock market closed lower on Thursday as investors reacted to the latest trade tariff announcement by US President Donald Trump. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.37 per cent to settle at 42,299.70, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.33 per cent to finish at 5,693.31. The Nasdaq also declined, ending the session 0.53 per cent lower at 17,804.03.
The U.S. economy expanded at an annualised rate of 2.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, slightly higher than the previously estimated 2.3 per cent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ final GDP estimate. This follows a 3.1 per cent growth rate recorded in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure, the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, which excludes food and energy, was revised down to 2.6 per cent. Corporate after-tax profits surged 5.9 per cent in the fourth quarter, marking the strongest increase in over two years.
In the labor market, initial unemployment claims declined by 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 224,000 for the week ending March 22. This was slightly below economists’ forecasts of 225,000 claims. The unemployment rate for March is expected to remain stable.
In Japan, core inflation in Tokyo remained above the central bank’s target, with consumer prices excluding fresh food rising 2.4 per cent year-on-year in March, surpassing market expectations of 2.2 per cent. This was an acceleration from February’s 2.2 per cent increase. A separate index, which excludes both fresh food and fuel, showed a 2.2 per cent rise, up from 1.9 per cent in the previous month.
Asian markets moved lower on Friday, tracking losses from Wall Street overnight as investors grew cautious about impending reciprocal tariffs. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 1.41 per cent, while the Topix index declined 1.55 per cent. In South Korea, the Kospi shed 1.54 per cent. Futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index suggested a weaker start.
Brent crude slipped 0.07 per cent to USD 73.25 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures edged up 0.19 per cent to USD 69.66.
The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency against a group of major peers, eased by 0.04 per cent to 103.92. Its recent strength was driven by expectations of new tariffs, while USD/INR was trading at 85.67.
On Thursday, the Indian stock market continued its upward momentum, with benchmark indices closing higher on the expiry day of the March derivatives series. The Sensex advanced by 317.93 points, or 0.41 per cent, to settle at 77,606.43, while the Nifty 50 climbed 105.10 points, or 0.45 per cent, to end at 23,591.95.
On March 27, 2025, foreign institutional investors (FII) bought shares worth Rs 11,111.25 crore, the highest buying since September 2024, while domestic institutional investors (DII) bought shares worth Rs 2,517.70 crore.
There are not any stocks banned for trading in the F&O segment on March 28, 2025.
Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.