Sensex, Nifty Drift Lower in Early Trade as Foreign Fund Outflows Persist

Benchmarks Slip After Brief Rebound​

Indian equity benchmarks opened Friday on a cautious note, with frontline indices slipping into the red amid sustained foreign fund outflows and renewed concerns around potential tariff actions by the United States.

After witnessing a brief rebound in early trade, the BSE Sensex declined by 78.84 points to 84,102.12. The broader NSE Nifty also eased, slipping 21.50 points to 25,850.85.

Heavyweights Under Pressure​

Selling pressure was visible across select index heavyweights. Stocks such as ICICI Bank, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, NTPC, Adani Ports, Sun Pharma, and Trent were among the notable laggards on the Sensex.

On the other hand, selective buying supported counters such as Eternal, HCL Tech, Bharat Electronics, and Asian Paints.

Recent Sell-Off Keeps Sentiment Fragile​

The early weakness follows a sharp sell-off in the previous session. On Thursday, the Sensex had plunged 780.18 points, or 0.92 percent, to close at 84,180.96, while the Nifty fell 263.90 points, or 1.01 percent, to 25,876.85.

Over the past four trading sessions, the Sensex has shed 1,581.05 points, or 1.84 percent. During the same period, the Nifty has declined 451.7 points, or 1.71 percent, reflecting sustained pressure on benchmark indices.

Institutional Flows Remain Mixed​

Foreign institutional investors continued to pare their equity exposure, selling shares worth Rs 3,367.12 crore in the previous session. In contrast, domestic institutional investors provided partial support to the market, purchasing equities worth Rs 3,701.17 crore.

Global Cues Offer Mixed Signals​

Asian markets presented a mixed picture in early trade. South Korea’s Kospi, Japan’s Nikkei 225, and China’s Shanghai Composite traded higher, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng quoted lower.

US equities ended Thursday’s session on a mixed note, offering limited directional cues for Asian markets.

Crude Oil Prices Edge Higher​

In commodities, crude oil prices firmed up marginally. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.53 percent to USD 62.32 per barrel, adding another variable for market participants to track during the session.