-

Indian stock markets traded lower on Friday as weak global cues and heavy foreign investor selling dragged benchmark indices down. Sensex slipped 486 points while Nifty hovered near 25,335. Rising volatility and broad-based selling kept market sentiment cautious.

Mumbai: Indian equity markets traded in the red on Friday, weighed down by weak global signals and sustained selling by foreign investors. Around 11:09 am, the BSE Sensex was down by 486 points at 81,761.94. The broader Nifty 50 also slipped 161 points to trade near 25,335.25. The decline was largely influenced by fresh outflows from Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), who reportedly offloaded equities worth Rs 3,465.99 crore. Continuous foreign selling tends to reduce liquidity in the market and often impacts investor confidence, particularly during uncertain global conditions.

Market breadth remained negative throughout the session, indicating that the weakness was not limited to a few heavyweight stocks. Of the total shares traded, around 1,403 advanced, while 2,288 declined and 220 remained unchanged. The broader trend suggested persistent selling pressure across sectors. Additionally, only 72 stocks touched their 52-week highs, whereas 208 shares hit 52-week lows, highlighting the fragile market sentiment.

Among the major Nifty constituents, UltraTech Cement, Shriram Finance and Max Healthcare Institute were among the notable laggards, falling up to 2 percent. On the positive side, Eternal and Infosys managed modest gains, suggesting selective buying interest in specific counters, particularly in segments like IT. Meanwhile, the India VIX, often referred to as the market’s fear gauge, rose nearly 3 percent. An increase in VIX reflects heightened volatility expectations and typically signals that investors are becoming more cautious. Rising volatility can lead to sharper intraday swings and short-term uncertainty.

The total market capitalization of companies listed on the BSE stood at approximately Rs 4,65.37 lakh crore, or about $5.12 trillion. A dip in overall market capitalization indicates a decline in investors’ collective wealth, especially affecting those who entered at higher levels recently. Overall, the current downturn suggests that Indian markets remain sensitive to global developments and foreign fund flows. 

If overseas sentiment continues to remain weak and FIIs maintain their selling stance, volatility may persist in the near term. However, long-term investors often view such corrections as opportunities to accumulate quality stocks gradually, provided they maintain a disciplined investment approach and manage risk effectively.