Delhi, 13 November (H.S.): Indian equity markets opened lower on Thursday, breaking a three-day winning streak as profit-taking and global uncertainties weighed on investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex declined 138.36 points, or 0.16 percent, to 84,328.15, while the NSE Nifty 50 slipped 35.25 points, or 0.14 percent, to 25,840.55 in early trading.

The market showed mixed movement throughout the opening session, with financial and information technology stocks recording the steepest declines. Investors were closely monitoring the progress of ongoing India-US trade negotiations, which could potentially lead to a reversal of retaliatory tariffs currently imposed on Indian exports.

Breaking a Three-Day Rally

The decline marked a significant reversal from Wednesday's robust performance, when both indices posted their third consecutive day of gains. On November 12, the Sensex surged 595.19 points, or 0.71 percent, closing at 84,466.51, while the Nifty 50 advanced 180.85 points, or 0.70 percent, to end at 25,875.80.

Trade Negotiations in Focus

Market participants remained watchful of India-US trade deal discussions, which have made significant progress in recent weeks. Union Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed that the first tranche of the India-US trade agreement is expected to be finalized by November 2025.

US President Donald Trump recently indicated that negotiations with India have advanced substantially and both nations are pretty close to reaching a fair agreement, potentially helping to reduce the current tariffs on Indian goods.

The negotiations aim to more than double bilateral trade from the current USD 191 billion to USD 500 billion by 2030. However, India currently faces a 50 percent tariff on certain imports to the United States, with an additional 25 percent levy tied to India's purchases of Russian crude oil.

Global Mixed Signals

Asian equities traded mostly higher on Thursday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 rising 0.42 percent while regional indices showed mixed performance. US markets closed with mixed results overnight, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing 0.68 percent to reach a new record of 48,254.82, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.26 percent amid technology sector profit-taking.

Despite the morning decline, market analysts note that easing domestic inflation—which fell sharply to 0.25 percent in October from 1.44 percent in September, reaching a record low—continues to provide underlying support for equity valuations.

Key Data Points Verified:

Sensex Opening: 84,328.15 (down 138.36 points)

Nifty 50 Opening: 25,840.55 (down 35.25 points)

Wednesday's Close (Sensex): 84,466.51 (up 595.19 points)

Wednesday's Close (Nifty 50): 25,875.80 (up 180.85 points)

Previous Trend: Three consecutive days of gains (broken)

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar