Indian stock markets opened to a bloodbath on Monday, mirroring a global wave of panic selling triggered by US President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff announcements. Both benchmark indices, Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex, plummeted sharply at the opening bell, reflecting investor fears of a prolonged economic downturn.
The Nifty 50 plunged by 5%, opening at 21,758.40, down 1,146.05 points, marking its lowest level in a year. The BSE Sensex followed suit with a drop of 3,984.80 points, or 5.29%, opening at 71,379.8.
Experts are calling for immediate government intervention. “India will face the heat not due to domestic issues, but as part of a globally interconnected portfolio flow,” said Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert. “We urgently need a fiscal, monetary, and reform package to protect our economy from this global economic winter. The consequences of an economic-nuclear tariff policy are unfolding.”
The meltdown follows a historic $5.4 trillion two-day crash in US markets, prompting similar heavy sell-offs across Asia. Taiwan saw a 20% drop, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 10%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 5.79%, and South Korea’s KOSPI was down 4.14%. China’s Shanghai Composite tumbled 6.5%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined by 3.82%.
Market analysts are urging the Trump administration to consider a rollback or postponement of the new tariffs. However, US officials have hinted that the tariffs may remain in place for weeks or even months.
Adding to the pressure, Brent crude prices fell to a 52-week low, trading at USD 63.97.
Sunil Gurjar, SEBI-registered research analyst and founder of Alphamojo Financial Services, highlighted that the Nifty 50 is showing a strong bearish trend: “A big red candle indicates seller dominance. If the current support level breaks, it could confirm a continuation of the downtrend.”
With US markets also poised for a negative opening—Dow Jones futures down by 2.22%—investors around the globe are bracing for more volatility ahead.
