12.01.202604:59:36UTC+00India Stocks Slide to Near 3-Month Low

The BSE Sensex dropped 439 points, or 0.5%, to settle at 83,137 in early trading on Monday, marking its lowest point since October 15. This decline was driven by ongoing profit-taking activities amid uncertainties surrounding the US-India trade agreement. The broader index witnessed its sixth consecutive decline, pressured by persistent foreign outflows and increasing geopolitical tensions. Nevertheless, optimism in anticipation of the upcoming earnings season helped limit the extent of the fall, with TCS and HCL Tech scheduled to release their December results today. Investors also exercised caution ahead of the domestic inflation data for December, which is expected to rise to 1.5%, albeit still below the Reserve Bank of India's lower tolerance threshold of 2%. Most sectors recorded losses, with notable declines in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, autos, technology, and banking stocks. Leading the declines were L&T and Power Grid, both down by 1.1%, while Adani Ports, Bajaj Finance, and Bharti Airtel each experienced a 1.0% drop.