NewsBite analysis · BusinessThe Hindu

Stock markets slide in early trade tracking weak global peers, foreign fund outflows

India’s benchmark indices opened lower as global market weakness and persistent foreign institutional investor (FII) selling weighed on sentiment. The Sensex fell 229.69 points to 74,139.32, while the Nifty declined 66.30 points to 23,339 in early trading. FIIs reportedly offloaded ₹5,616.56 crore on the prior session, underscoring risk-off sentiment. Analysts pointed to sustained headwinds from geopolitical tensions in West Asia and the ongoing global pullback in equities, even as some regional markets show relative strength. Brent crude traded around $96.86 per barrel, with the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire renewing some risk-appetite but broader tensions limiting any meaningful improvement in risk sentiment. The previous close reflected a softer backdrop, with the Sensex at 74,346.17 and the Nifty at 23,405.60. Overall, near-term conditions remain fragile as external headlines and energy prices continue to influence flows and sentiment.