Sensex Falls 733 Points as Tariffs and FPI Selling Drag Markets

Market Performance

The Indian stock market faced another rough day on Friday, extending its losing streak to the sixth consecutive session. The BSE Sensex slipped 733.22 points, or 0.90%, to close at 80,426.46, while the Nifty 50 dropped 236.15 points, or 0.95%, to settle at 24,654.70.

The fall was broad-based, with weakness seen across IT, pharma, metals, and banking stocks. Investor wealth took a sharp hit as nearly ₹7 lakh crore in market capitalization was wiped out in a single session, bringing the total value of BSE-listed firms down to ₹450.8 lakh crore from ₹457.4 lakh crore.

On a weekly basis, the Sensex lost 2.66% and Nifty slipped 2.65%, signaling one of the toughest stretches for Dalal Street in recent months.

Main News

The sell-off was triggered by a combination of global and domestic factors:

• Fresh U.S. tariffs on Indian pharmaceuticals rattled sentiment in the pharma sector.
• Last week’s H-1B visa fee hike continued to weigh heavily on IT stocks.
• The U.S. Federal Reserve’s guarded approach to interest rate cuts weighed on global investor sentiment.
• Persistent foreign portfolio investor (FPI) outflows, with net sales of ₹13,450 crore in September alone, deepened the weakness.

These factors, taken together, sparked widespread selling pressure, dragging the benchmark indices and broader markets sharply lower.

Company Details and Sector Impact

• IT and Pharma stocks bore the brunt, reflecting the direct hit from U.S. policy moves.
• Nifty IT index fell 2.45%, while Nifty Pharma lost 2.14%.
• Metals, PSU banks, and auto stocks also ended in the red.
• Broader markets saw steeper declines, with Nifty Midcap 100 down 2% and Nifty Smallcap 100 slipping 2.26%.

Meanwhile, out of 3,138 NSE-listed companies, 2,424 closed in the red against just 628 gainers, highlighting the breadth of selling pressure.

Summary of the Day

• Sensex down 733 points, Nifty lower by 236 points.
• Investors lost nearly ₹7 lakh crore in market value.
• FPI outflows crossed ₹13,450 crore in September so far.
• All sectoral indices ended negative; IT and Pharma led the fall.
• Broader markets corrected more sharply than large caps.

The stock market today reflected a clear trend: global trade tensions, U.S. policy changes, and continuous FPI selling are driving caution across Dalal Street. With sentiment fragile, volatility remains high, and investors are closely watching global cues.