Nifty, Sensex Drop Amid Rising U.S. Treasury Yields and Global Caution

As of 12:17 p.m. IST, the Nifty 50 had declined by 0.98 per cent to 24,572, while the Sensex was down 0.93 per cent, trading at 80,843.

Market Update at 12:30 PM: India's benchmark equity indices opened sharply lower on Thursday, with both the Nifty 50 and the BSE Sensex slipping nearly 1 per cent amid global risk-off sentiment triggered by U.S. fiscal concerns and surging Treasury yields.

As of 12:17 p.m. IST, the Nifty 50 had declined by 0.98 per cent to 24,572, while the Sensex was down 0.93 per cent, trading at 80,843.

Broader markets showed relatively smaller declines. The Nifty Mid-Cap index lost 0.58 per cent, and the Small-Cap index edged 0.31 per cent lower, reflecting more domestic resilience.

All 17 major sectoral indices were under pressure, led by a 1 per cent drop in the Nifty IT index. Technology stocks faced selling pressure amid concerns that any economic slowdown in the U.S. could lead to reduced IT budgets among American firms, a key revenue stream for Indian IT companies.

U.S. President Donald Trump's massive tax and spending bill, which could add about USD 3.8 trillion to the U.S. debt pile, was approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday, setting up a floor vote for passage to occur within hours.

Market Update at 10:20 AM: Indian stock markets began Thursday’s session on a weaker note, weighed down by global cues such as rising U.S. Treasury yields and renewed fiscal concerns in the United States.

At 9:21 a.m. IST, the Nifty 50 was trading 0.75 per cent lower at 24,630.2, while the BSE Sensex declined by 0.73 per cent to 80,971.45.

All 13 major sectoral indices were in the red, reflecting broad-based selling. The broader small-cap and mid-cap indices also declined, falling 0.3 per cent and 0.6 per cent, respectively.

Information technology stocks were among the worst hit, dropping 1.5 per cent, as concerns over the U.S. economy impacted sentiment around firms with significant exposure to American markets.

Weakness across Asian equities followed a negative close on Wall Street, where yields on 20-year U.S. government bonds climbed to their highest levels since November 2023.

Investor nerves were rattled after Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating last Friday, citing escalating debt levels. Adding to the concerns, long-term Treasury yields spiked on Wednesday amid ongoing debates in the U.S. Congress over a tax and spending bill that may further strain the fiscal outlook.

The bill passed the House Rules Committee, paving the way for a vote on the House floor later in the day.

Pre-Market Update at 8:00 AM: On Thursday, May 22, 2025, Indian equity markets are anticipated to start on a cautious note, as indicated by the early trends in GIFT Nifty, which points to a gap-down opening amid lacklustre global sentiment.

At around 7:25 am, the GIFT Nifty was trading near 24,775, down approximately 55 points from the previous close.

The Indian stock market ended Wednesday on a positive note, snapping a three-day losing streak thanks to strong buying interest in major stocks. Meanwhile, Asian markets mostly declined, and U.S. stocks experienced a sharp sell-off overnight, with all three key Wall Street indices posting their largest single-day drops in about a month.

Earnings season remains the main driver in India, with several key companies set to announce their Q4 results on Thursday. Notable names reporting include ITC, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Grasim Industries, GMR Airports, Container Corporation of India, Metro Brands, The Ramco Cements, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Gujarat State Petronet, and Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals.

On May 21, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers, acquiring equities worth Rs 2,201.79 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) purchased shares valued at Rs 683.77 crore.

Indian markets recovered after three consecutive sessions of losses. The Sensex climbed 410.19 points (0.51 per cent) to finish at 81,596.63, and the Nifty 50 gained 129.55 points (0.52 per cent) to close at 24,813.45.

Asian markets opened lower on Thursday, influenced by the steep decline on Wall Street overnight.

In the U.S., stocks fell sharply on Wednesday amid a rise in Treasury yields and concerns over a potential increase in the national debt if President Donald Trump’s tax cut proposals are approved by Congress. The Dow Jones dropped 816.80 points (1.91 per cent) to 41,860.44, the S&P 500 declined 95.85 points (1.61 per cent) to 5,844.61, and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 270.07 points (1.41 per cent) to 18,872.64.

Yields on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds rose after a USD 16 billion auction of 20-year bonds drew less-than-expected demand. The 10-year Treasury yield increased by 10.8 basis points to 4.589 per cent, reaching its highest point since mid-February. The 20-year yield rose to 5.127 per cent, a level not seen since November 2023, while the 30-year yield went up by 11.5 basis points to 5.0817 per cent.

Bitcoin surged to a record high of USD 109,856, a 2.7 per cent increase. This rise was fueled by positive developments on U.S. stablecoin regulations, boosting investor confidence about clearer rules under President Trump’s administration.

Crude oil prices fell as inventories in the U.S. increased unexpectedly, causing worries over demand. Brent crude dropped 0.55 per cent to USD 64.55 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipped 0.52 per cent to USD 61.25. 

Gold prices inched higher amid a weaker U.S. dollar and increased demand for safe-haven assets. Spot gold rose 0.2 per cent to USD 3,320.37 per ounce.

For today, Titagarh Rail Systems, RBL Bank and Mannapuram Finance continue to remain under the F&O ban list.

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.