Market Performance
The Indian stock market opened on a weaker note on August 26, 2025, as global trade tensions weighed heavily on investor sentiment. The latest trigger came from Washington, where the Donald Trump-led US administration announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, effective from August 27, 2025.
This move sparked a sell-off across metal, real estate, and auto stocks, dragging down the broader indices.
- Nifty Metal Index slipped over 1.2%, hovering near 9,319.
- Nifty Realty Index lost close to 1.6%, trading around 902.
- Nifty Auto Index dropped more than 0.6% in early trade.
The sentiment across the market remained cautious, with traders watching the impact of higher tariffs on companies that have significant export exposure to the US.
Main News: Trump Tariff Impact Hits Indian Sectors
The US Department of Homeland Security, in its draft notice, stated that the additional tariffs would be imposed on Indian goods “entered for consumption, or taken out from warehouses for consumption, starting 12:01 a.m. EDT on August 27, 2025.”
The order cited escalating geopolitical tensions involving Russia as the backdrop for this tariff hike. The move comes after President Trump earlier signaled that tariffs on Indian goods could rise as high as 50%, citing India’s continued energy and defense imports from Russia.
This sharp policy change quickly reverberated through the Indian markets, with export-linked companies and realty majors leading the decline.
Company Details
Metals Take the Hardest Knock
Indian metal companies, many of which export heavily to the US, bore the brunt of the sell-off.
- Adani Enterprises: Top loser on the index, slipping over 2% to ₹2,253.
- Welspun Corp, SAIL, Tata Steel: Shares fell nearly 2% each.
- Hindalco Industries, NALCO, Hindustan Copper, NMDC, JSW Steel: Down more than 1% each.
- Vedanta, Hindustan Zinc: Declined by nearly 1%.
- Jindal Stainless Steel: Marginal losses, still in the red.
The broad weakness highlighted the sector’s vulnerability to tariff-led export disruptions.
Realty Stocks Slide on Margin Pressure
While most real estate players are domestically focused, the impact of tariffs on raw material costs weighed on the sector. Investors feared a squeeze on margins if input costs rise further.
- DLF: Dropped over 2% to ₹755, the biggest loser in the segment.
- Godrej Properties, Sobha, Oberoi Realty: Declined nearly 2% each.
- Prestige Estates, Raymond, Anant Raj, Phoenix, Brigade Enterprises: Fell close to 1% each.
The broad-based fall reflected concerns that rising input costs could slow down realty growth in the near term.
Auto Stocks Under Pressure
The auto index also faced selling, with several automakers relying heavily on exports to the US market. While some categories of auto parts are exempt from the new tariffs, uncertain trade rules kept investors on edge.
- Samvardhana Motherson, Bharat Forge: Lost over 2% each.
- Balkrishna Industries, MRF, Tube Investments of India: Dropped around 1.5%.
- TVS Motor, Ashok Leyland, Bosch, Maruti Suzuki: Down up to 1%.
Export-linked revenue streams came under the spotlight, driving caution across the sector.
Summary
The August 26 session turned sour for the Indian market as metal, auto, and real estate stocks dropped sharply following news of fresh US tariffs on Indian imports.
- Adani Enterprises, Tata Steel, DLF were among the worst hit.
- Nifty Metal, Realty, Auto indices all closed lower, highlighting the broad-based impact of trade tensions.
- Rising tariff risks, coupled with higher raw material costs, weighed on market sentiment.
With policy-driven headwinds from global markets, investors stayed cautious, keeping volumes choppy and the indices under pressure.
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