Indian Stock Markets Slide for Fourth Straight Session as Global Risks Mount

Indian stock markets extended losses for a fourth consecutive session on Thursday as foreign investors continued selling and global uncertainty weighed on sentiment. The Sensex dropped 780 points, or 0.92%, to close at 84,180.96, while the Nifty 50 fell 264 points, or 1%, to 26,140.75.

Sensex falls below 85,000 and Nifty weakens near 26,100 amid heavy FII selling, currency pressure, and global monetary uncertainty

Markets opened cautiously on Friday, with GIFT Nifty indicating a mildly positive start near 26,000. However, sentiment remains weak after the Nifty has declined about 3,200 points from its December high. The Sensex slipped below the key 85,000 level, confirming technical weakness. Analysts see support near 83,600–83,700, while the Nifty must move above 26,400–26,500 to regain strength.

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Foreign institutional investors sold shares worth nearly ₹3,850 crore on Thursday, taking January outflows beyond ₹12,500 crore. A strong US dollar, expensive valuations, and shifting global capital flows drove the selling. Losses spread across sectors, with PSU banks, power, capital goods, and IT stocks under pressure. Defensive sectors such as FMCG and pharma showed limited gains.

The rupee weakened further against the US dollar, adding pressure on markets and complicating inflation control. Despite market volatility, growth prospects remain steady, with India’s GDP expected to grow around 6.6% in 2026. Investors now await Q3 earnings and policy signals from the Reserve Bank of India, while markets are likely to stay volatile in the near term.

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