Indian stock markets opened lower today, with both the Sensex and Nifty trending downwards, influenced by a combination of factors including global cues and profit-booking.

The 30-share BSE Sensex experienced a fall of over 100 points, while the Nifty 50 slipped below the 26,150 mark. The decline was primarily attributed to losses in Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and the Bajaj Twins (Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserv).

Key Drags:

• Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL): BEL's share price moved down by -0.07% from its previous close. Recent performance data indicates that BEL's stock has experienced a decrease of 1.71% compared to the previous week, with a 3.12% fall over the last month. However, over the last year, the stock has shown a 29.59% increase.
• Bajaj Twins: Shares of Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserv were also among the top losers. On April 30, 2025, the Bajaj twins emerged as top losers in both the Sensex and Nifty 50. Bajaj Finserv was trading at Rs 1,948.70 on the NSE, down 5.72 per cent. Bajaj Finance was trading at Rs 8,587 per share on the NSE, down 5.56 per cent.

Global and Domestic Factors:

The Indian stock market's flat opening aligns with muted cues from global markets, as Asian equities began the week cautiously. Investors are closely watching deteriorating China-Japan relations, a series of central bank meetings, and the overall risk landscape as the year approaches its end. Several key events are expected to influence market direction this week, including developments from India-Russia economic agreements, the US Federal Reserve policy decision, and India's CPI inflation data. Progress on the India-US trade deal, foreign fund flows, and movements in gold prices will also be closely monitored.

Last week, domestic sentiment saw improvement after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the rate by 25 basis points and proposed liquidity infusion through bond purchases and dollar-rupee swaps. This move helped the Sensex and Nifty 50 end Friday's session with gains.

Expert Perspectives:

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments Limited, suggests a cautiously positive short-term outlook with a focus on corporate earnings in December. However, challenges such as a widening current account deficit and global trade tensions remain. The US Fed's stance on rate cuts will be crucial for maintaining the domestic trend for the month.

Other Market Trends:

The Indian rupee's weakness is also a factor, with the rupee depreciating by 5% so far this year. The local currency has depreciated and has pulled below 90 against the US dollar this week.

Broader Market Performance:

On Friday, the Sensex rose 447 points, or 0.52%, to close at 85,712.37, while the Nifty 50 added 153 points, or 0.59%, to finish at 26,186.45. The BSE Midcap index edged up 0.21%, while the Smallcap index declined 0.67%, reflecting continued divergence in broader market performance.