Indian Shares Open Lower Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Indian shares opened lower amid uncertainty regarding U.S. tariffs. The Sensex fell by 0.2% and Nifty by 0.3%. Some sectors experienced declines while IT stocks showed resilience due to profit margin expectations from a weakening rupee.

Date: 18-02-2025

AI Rating: 5

**Market Overview**: The report indicates a subdued opening for Indian shares, with significant indices like the S&P/BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty down 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. This decline can be attributed to mixed cues from global markets and uncertainty surrounding U.S. President Trump’s tariff plans, which typically create volatility and may lead to cautious investor sentiment. **Sector Performance**: Certain sectors demonstrated contrasting trajectories. Notably, **IT stocks such as Infosys, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra** gained approximately 1% each. The expectation that a weakening rupee will enhance their profit margins could lead to improved earnings in this sector, which is crucial for stocks that depend on international revenue. Conversely, companies like **Tata Steel, Shriram Finance, BEL, BPCL,** and **Grasim** experienced declines around 2%. This drop might reflect broader concerns over economic conditions and investor pessimism in those sectors. **Other Notable Movements**: **Bharti Airtel** faced a slight dip due to major stakeholders offloading stock, a move that might signal bearish sentiment towards the company from insiders. **SBI Cards** also saw a 1% drop following the appointment of a new MD and CEO, which can raise questions about the company’s direction. On a positive note, **ABB India** rallied 3.6% after reporting robust quarterly results, suggesting strong operational performance that could reassure investors. In contrast, **Gabriel India** tumbled by 3.2% amid licensing developments that might not be positively perceived by investors.

Stocks: SBI TATSTEEL INFY WIPRO BHARTIARTL ABBN