Indian Markets Dip at Opening Bell; Sensex, Nifty Trade Negative

New Delhi : Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty opened in the red on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, amid weak global cues and continued investor caution. The 30-share BSE Sensex fell 261.89 points, or 0.34 per cent, to open at 76,996.78, while the broader Nifty 50 declined 15.55 points, starting the day’s trade at 23,344.10.

The cautious start follows a subdued close in the previous session, where the Sensex had settled at 76,734.89 and the Nifty at 23,328.55. Despite the downtrend in frontline indices, the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices showed resilience, trading in the green during early hours—signaling selective buying in the broader market.

Notably, the India VIX, often referred to as the fear gauge, dropped by 3.24 per cent, indicating slightly improved investor sentiment regarding market volatility. The index was last seen trading at 15.60, suggesting that while caution persists, panic selling is absent.

From the Sensex pack, stocks such as IndusInd Bank, Power Grid, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, and HDFC Bank were among the gainers in early trade. IndusInd Bank led the pack with a 1.25 per cent rise, supported by strong Q4 expectations and favorable sector outlook.

On the flip side, prominent laggards included Sun Pharma, Eternal, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HCL Technologies, and Maruti Suzuki. Sun Pharma slipped by 0.89 per cent, possibly due to profit-booking and cautious commentary ahead of its quarterly results.

Globally, investor sentiment remained weak amid concerns over the U.S. Federal Reserve’s future rate path, geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East, and sluggish economic data from key markets. Asian indices traded mixed, while U.S. markets closed marginally lower overnight.

Back home, market participants will keep a close eye on upcoming corporate earnings, macroeconomic data, and cues from FPIs (Foreign Portfolio Investors), whose activity has remained choppy in recent weeks. Analysts advise a stock-specific approach amid a range-bound broader market, especially with the election season approaching.