13.01.202604:55:50UTC+00India Shares Edge Lower in Morning Trade

On Tuesday morning, the BSE Sensex experienced a decline of 154 points, or 0.2%, settling at 83,724. This drop reversed the gains observed in the previous trading session, predominantly due to concerns sparked by a statement from U.S. President Trump, who threatened to impose a 25% tariff on nations engaging in commerce with Iran. This announcement subdued the optimism surrounding potential trade agreements between the U.S. and India, as well as the recent quarterly earnings results. Nonetheless, a robust performance in the U.S. markets the night prior helped mitigate the extent of the fall. Additionally, inflation data released on Monday offered some support, as December's figures remained beneath the Reserve Bank of India's target range of 2-6%, fostering hopes for a possible interest rate reduction in the upcoming meeting. The majority of sectors experienced declines, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, technology, and automotive stocks. Notably, Larsen & Toubro's shares decreased by 1.9%, while HCL Technologies saw a 1.5% drop following an 11% year-on-year decrease in its third-quarter consolidated net profit. Tata Motors and Reliance Industries also saw reductions, with losses of 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively.