The Indian stock market continued its downward trajectory on Friday, opening in the red for the third consecutive trading session. Both major indices, the BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty 50, faced selling pressure right from the opening bell, reflecting a cautious sentiment among market participants. 08%. 14%. This trend follows a period of volatility where initial gains from earlier in the week have been largely offset by consistent profit-booking.
Index Performance and Market Breadth
The market breadth remained weak during the early hours of Friday. Out of the 30 stocks comprising the Sensex, only 16 managed to trade in the green, while 14 stocks opened with losses. The situation was more pronounced in the Nifty 50, where only 17 companies saw their share prices rise, leaving 33 stocks in the negative territory. According to market analysts, this lack of broad-based buying interest suggests that the market is undergoing a corrective phase after the significant rally witnessed on Tuesday, February 3, which was triggered by positive news regarding US tariffs on Indian goods.
Top Gainers and Laggards in Early Trade
29% in early trade. 52%. Powergrid, ICICI Bank, and Bharti Airtel also showed marginal improvements. 32% of its value at the open. 80%. Other major stocks like Maruti Suzuki, HCL Tech, and BEL also faced downward pressure, contributing to the overall index decline.
Sectoral Impact and Global Cues
The IT and Banking sectors, which carry significant weightage in the indices, showed a mixed to negative performance. 14%. 17%. Analysts suggest that the current market behavior is a reaction to global economic cues and a lack of fresh domestic triggers. Stocks like Adani Ports, Axis Bank, and Titan traded within narrow ranges, indicating a wait-and-watch approach by institutional investors.
Analyst Perspective and Market Outlook
According to market analysts, the persistent decline over the last three days is a sign of consolidation. The sharp jump seen earlier this week on the back of US President Donald Trump's tariff comments provided a temporary boost, but the market is now adjusting to fundamental realities and global liquidity trends. Experts believe that the market is looking for stable support levels before making the next move. The closing figures for Friday will be crucial in determining the sentiment for the upcoming week. For now, the focus remains on sectoral rotations and the performance of large-cap stocks in the banking and technology spaces.