The Indian stock market opened on a subdued note on Monday, as investors await clarity on the much-anticipated interim trade deal between India and the United States.
At 9:20 a.m., the BSE Sensex dipped 50 points or 0.05% to 81,714, while the NSE Nifty slipped 17 points or 0.07% to 24,951. Midcap and smallcap indices also saw mild declines&mdash;Nifty Midcap 100 fell 0.15% and Smallcap 100 dropped 0.36%.
Market sentiment remains cautious, with analysts highlighting the India-US trade negotiations as the key event to watch. &ldquo;If an interim deal is signed with tariff rates below 20%, it could boost market confidence,&rdquo; said Dr VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.
On the sectoral front, auto, IT, pharma, FMCG, PSU banks, and energy stocks traded lower, while financials, metals, and realty shares showed strength.
Major laggards in the Sensex included Infosys, HCL Technologies, TCS, Reliance Industries, Titan, and Asian Paints. Among gainers were Tata Steel, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, UltraTech Cement, and Bajaj Finance.
Asian markets were largely positive, with gains in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, and Jakarta. Tokyo, however, remained in the red. In the U.S., the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.32%, while the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.05%.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned net buyers on July 18 with purchases worth ₹374.74 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) maintained their buying streak with ₹2,103.51 crore in net purchases.
Given the ongoing global uncertainty, experts advise a cautious "sell-on-rise" strategy, particularly for leveraged traders.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/syria-slams-druze-militias-for-aid-blockade/16704" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Syria Slams Druze Militias For Aid Blockade</a>

Market Opens Flat Amid India-US Trade Deal Buzz

Markets stay cautious as investors await clarity on interim India-US trade agreement

Market Opens Flat Amid India-US Trade Deal Buzz

Markets stay cautious as investors await clarity on interim India-US trade agreement

July 21, 2025 | 09:49 IST