India’s BSE Sensex fell around 0.8% to below 75,416 on Friday, marking its third consecutive session of losses to its lowest levels since April 2025. The index is also down 4.4% for the week, on track for its largest weekly decline since late 2024.The downturn reflects persistent geopolitical tensions from the US Israel conflict with Iran and surging oil prices, which have raised concerns over rising inflation, a wider fiscal deficit, and slower economic growth. Foreign investors have also sold about $49 billion of Indian stocks in March, the biggest outflow since January 2025. India inflation also rose to an eleven-month high of 3.21% in February, up from 2.74% in January and above expectations of 3.1%, reflecting a return to more normal levels after last year’s unusually low food-driven readings. Most stock sectors traded in the red, with notable laggards included Larsen & Toubro (-2%), Hindalco Industries (-1.9%), HDFC Bank (-1.6%), Infosys (-1.3%), and ICICI Bank (-1.2%).
