Indian Markets Extend Five-Week Decline Amid Trump Tariffs, Sensex Falls 586 Points

The Indian stock market experienced its fifth consecutive weekly decline in 2025, marking the longest losing streak in nearly two years, with the Sensex and Nifty 50 falling around 1% each. This downturn followed President Trump's announcement of a 25% tariff plus penalty on India for energy, crude, and defense imports from Russia, which initially caused markets to open lower but saw a recovery as investors perceived the tariffs as a negotiating tactic. Despite the market slump, several heavyweight stocks delivered weekly gains, including Jio Financial Services, and multiple companies reported strong quarterly earnings and corporate developments, such as JSW Energy, Chalet Hotels, and Niva Bupa. Dividend declarations and corporate actions were prominent, with Maruti Suzuki and Eicher Motors going ex-dividend and new IPOs like Shanti Gold International entering the market. Foreign institutional investor selling and muted Q1 earnings contributed to market pressures, while the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates despite President Trump's calls for cuts indicated continued monetary policy stability. Overall, analysts recommend a buy-on-dips strategy amid the absence of fresh market triggers and ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties.