Mumbai, Aug 25: Indian stock markets opened slightly lower on Tuesday, with the Sensex and Nifty declining in early trade as investors remained cautious over geopolitical tensions, higher crude oil prices and the monthly derivatives expiry.
The Sensex fell around 30 points to 77,336, while the Nifty 50 declined around 38 points to 24,179 shortly after the market opened.
Market sentiment remained subdued following continued tensions involving Iran and the United States. Investors are concerned that further escalation could affect global oil supplies and push crude prices higher.
Brent crude was trading around $92 a barrel, keeping pressure on India’s oil import outlook. Higher crude prices can increase the country’s import bill and add to inflationary concerns.
The monthly derivatives expiry is also expected to contribute to volatility during the trading session. Investors are closely watching the 24,000–24,130 level on the Nifty for signs of further weakness or a recovery.
Asian markets also traded largely lower, adding to the cautious mood in Indian equities.
Analysts expect the domestic market to remain volatile during the day as investors track crude oil prices, geopolitical developments and global market cues.