Bourses trade at day’s low levels in early afternoon session

Indian markets traded at day’s low levels in early afternoon session as traders avoided to take risk ahead of India’s inflation data, which is due later in a day. Traders were cautious about U.S. - China trade deal. Traders also took note of report that Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa has said that the European Union and India should work towards a free trade agreement (FTA) that addresses tariff and non-tariff barriers as both regions are currently ‘a bit over-regulated’. Investors overlooked Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s statement that the world trade is facing severe geo-political challenges, but India has consistently emerged as a winner in such times, and the country's exports of goods and services will certainly cross $825 billion in 2025-26 (FY26).  

On the global front, Asian markets were trading mixed as investors assessed U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration that a trade deal with China was ‘done’ and that he would set unilateral tariff rates for trading partners within two weeks.

The BSE Sensex is currently trading at 82208.77, down by 306.37 points or 0.37% after trading in a range of 82107.36 and 82661.04. There were 6 stocks advancing against 24 stocks declining on the index.

The broader indices were trading in red; the BSE Mid cap index declined 0.71%, while Small cap index was down by 0.46%.

The only gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were Healthcare up by 0.64% and Telecom was up by 0.03%, while Oil & Gas down by 1.38%, Power down by 1.07%, Realty down by 1.07%, Energy down by 1.05% and FMCG was down by 0.93% were the top losing indices on BSE.

The top gainers on the Sensex were Asian Paints up by 1.66%, Bajaj Finserv up by 1.37%, Sun Pharma up by 1.02%, Tech Mahindra up by 0.41% and Bajaj Finance up by 0.21%. On the flip side, Tata Motors down by 1.68%, Tata Steel down by 1.60%, Hindustan Unilever down by 1.27%, Eternal down by 1.23% and Mahindra & Mahindra down by 1.20% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa has said that the European Union (EU) and India should work towards a free trade agreement (FTA) that addresses tariff and non-tariff barriers as both regions are currently ‘a bit over-regulated’. He noted that both issues are key for a smoother flow of goods across borders.

Addressing business leaders of India and Sweden, he said the EU and India will gain significantly from the proposed FTA. He said ‘the best for both the EU and for India will be an FTA, which is not only about tariffs but also includes non-tariff barriers...I think, both in the EU and in India, we are... just a bit over-regulated right now’. 

He added that India can become a trusted manufacturing hub if it can continue to attract foreign direct investments. As many as 75 Indian companies have a presence in Sweden. They have employed about 7,000 people. He also said that Sweden can help India increase its share of manufacturing in its GDP.

The CNX Nifty is currently trading at 25044.80, down by 96.60 points or 0.38% after trading in a range of 25009.35 and 25196.20. There were 11 stocks advancing against 39 stocks declining on the index.

The top gainers on Nifty were Asian Paints up by 1.57%, Bajaj Finserv up by 1.42%, Apollo Hospital Ent. up by 1.05%, Sun Pharma up by 1.03% and Dr. Reddy's Lab up by 0.99%. On the flip side, Tata Motors down by 1.79%, Tata Steel down by 1.68%, Coal India down by 1.62%, Hindustan Unilever down by 1.43% and Tata Consumer down by 1.42% were the top losers.

Asian markets were trading mixed; KOSPI increased 12.99 points or 0.44% to 2,920.03, Straits Times rose 8.42 points or 0.21% to 3,927.47, Shanghai Composite strengthened 0.39 points or 0.01% to 3,402.71. On the flip side, Jakarta Composite plunged 15.2 points or 0.21% to 7,207.26, Taiwan Weighted lost 182.28 points or 0.82% to 22,287.82, Hang Seng declined 222.57 points or 0.91% to 24,144.37 and Nikkei 225 was down by 248.1 points or 0.65% to 38,173.09.