Why Did Sensex and Nifty Close Lower Amid Tariff Worries?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Investor sentiment remains cautious due to tariff uncertainties.
- Sensex closed at 83,409.69, down 287.6 points.
- Nifty fell by 88.45 points, ending at 25,453.4.
- Sector performance varied, with some sectors closing in the green.
- Upcoming Q1 earnings are a focal point for investors.
Mumbai, July 2 (NationPress) The stock markets closed lower on Wednesday as investor sentiment turned cautious due to US President Donald Trump's unwavering position on the impending tariff deadline.
This uncertainty fostered a risk-averse atmosphere among investors, causing benchmark indices to retreat.
After peaking at an intra-day high of 83,935.29, the Sensex lost steam and ended at 83,409.69, down 287.6 points or 0.34 percent.
The Nifty also fell by 88.45 points or 0.35 percent, closing at 25,453.4.
“Diverse global signals, especially with the looming tariff deadline, are contributing to investor caution,” stated Vinod Nair from Geojit Investments Limited.
“Attention is gradually shifting towards significant Q1 earnings, which come with high expectations,” he elaborated.
Nair further noted that strong macroeconomic fundamentals and increased government spending continue to bolster market resilience.
Among the Sensex stocks, the most significant losers included Bajaj Finserv, L&T, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, and Bharat Electronics.
Conversely, Tata Steel, Asian Paints, Ultratech Cement, Trent, Maruti, and Sun Pharma were some of the top gainers.
The broader markets displayed a similar pattern, with the Nifty Midcap100 index decreasing by 0.14 percent, while the Nifty Smallcap100 index dipped 0.41 percent.
Sector-wise, Nifty Metal, Consumer Durables, Auto, IT, Pharma, and Healthcare managed to end on a positive note.
In contrast, Nifty Realty, Financial Services, Bank, Oil & Gas, and Media sectors weighed down overall sentiment with their losses.
The total market capitalization of all listed companies on the NSE reached Rs 5.35 trillion.
Meanwhile, the India VIX, which gauges market volatility, slightly decreased by 0.66 percent to settle at 12.44 points, indicating a slight easing in investor anxiety despite the day's downturn.
Gold traded within a narrow range as the market awaited pivotal US data releases. Comex Gold fluctuated between $3327 and $3340, while MCX Gold ranged from Rs 97,000 to Rs 97,400.
“Prices are expected to hover in the broader range of Rs 96,500 to Rs 97,850 as participants anticipate potential dollar weakness and forthcoming US data, including Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP), ADP non-farm employment, and unemployment figures,” remarked Jateen Trivedi from LKP Securities.