500% Tariff Threat... Trump's New Move Shakes Indian Stock Market, Sensex Plunges 600 Points
The Indian stock market is in turmoil, trading lower for the fourth consecutive day. Investors are increasingly worried about the reasons behind the market's inability to recover.
The market opened lower on Thursday as well. The Sensex opened down by about 200 points, and selling pressure gradually intensified. By 2:30 PM, the Sensex had fallen by approximately 600 points to 84,360. The Nifty also dropped by more than 200 points, slipping below 26,000.
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Reports suggest the tariffs could be as high as 500%.
Shares of oil and metal companies are under the most pressure. Hindalco shares fell by 3.77%, ONGC shares by 3.12%, and Jio Financial shares by 3%.
There are several reasons for this decline, but experts are primarily linking it to the US
India has been a major buyer of Russian oil, accounting for more than 30% of its crude imports. Meanwhile, a new bill, the 'Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025', has been introduced in the US, which is being described as a major move by President Donald Trump. The objective of this bill is to increase economic pressure on Russia.
Who will be harmed by Trump's tariff threat?
Under this plan, heavy tariffs could be imposed on countries that buy oil, gas, or other energy from Russia. Reports suggest the tariffs could be as high as 500%. This could primarily affect India, China, and Brazil. Now, if the US imposes a 500% tariff, it means that Indian exports to the US could face heavy taxes, making Indian products more expensive in the US and potentially harming trade. However, the Indian government has not yet commented on this issue.
Selling by foreign investors is also a major reason
Another major factor is the weak performance of other global markets. Japan's Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng are seeing significant declines. US markets also closed lower on Wednesday. This means that global challenges are increasing.
The third main reason is the continuous selling of shares by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs). In the early days of January alone, foreign investors have sold shares worth thousands of crores of rupees. This has increased pressure on the Indian market and weakened investor sentiment.
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Summary
However, in a few days, Indian companies will start releasing their third-quarter results, which could change the market sentiment.
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