Stock Market Today: Sensex, Nifty Ends Lower Amid US Tariff Concerns

The US has officially imposed a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, while Chinese goods now face a total 20 per cent tariff, following an additional 10 per cent levy

The Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Tuesday, as widespread US tariffs on major trading partners shook global markets and weighed on investor sentiment. The Sensex closed in the red for the third consecutive session, while the Nifty 50 extended its losing streak to ten sessions, marking its longest decline since its inception nearly three decades ago.

At the close, the Sensex was down 96 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 72,989, and the Nifty dropped 36 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 22,082. Advancing shares totaled 2,133, while 1,673 shares declined and 118 remained unchanged.

Among the Nifty 50 constituents, the biggest losers included Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Finserv, HCLTech, and Eicher Motors, which dropped between 2 per cent and 5 per cent. On the other hand, BPCL, SBI, BEL, Shriram Finance, and Adani Enterprises emerged as the top gainers, rising between 1 per cent and 3 per cent.

The US has officially imposed a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, while Chinese goods now face a total 20 per cent tariff, following an additional 10 per cent levy. In a further escalation, reciprocal tariffs are set to take effect from April 2, raising concerns over potential trade disruptions and financial market volatility.

Apart from direct trade effects, these tariffs could push inflation higher in the US, potentially prompting the Federal Reserve to maintain elevated interest rates for a longer period—an outcome that could hinder foreign investment in emerging markets such as India.

Broader Market

The broader markets showed a mixed performance. The BSE Midcap index remained flat, while the BSE Smallcap index rose by more than 1 per cent.

Sectorial Update

In sectoral trading, five of the 13 Nifty sectoral indices closed in the red, with IT, auto, and FMCG stocks pulling the market lower.

IT stocks, which derive a significant portion of their revenue from the US, declined by nearly 1 per cent, with Infosys and HCLTech weighing heavily on the sector. Data indicating rising price pressures in the US further dampened sentiment for IT stocks.