Mumbai, August 28, 2025 – Indian stock markets are expected to open lower on Thursday as the Donald Trump administration’s additional 25% tariffs on Indian imports came into effect on Wednesday, doubling duties to 50%.

The tariffs, imposed over India’s continued purchases of Russian oil, have already rattled investor sentiment. On Tuesday, the Sensex and Nifty both dropped about 1%, marking their sharpest single-day fall in three months.

Early Indicators Point to Weak Start

Gift Nifty futures were trading at 24,665.5 points at 7:31 a.m., indicating that the Nifty 50 could open below Tuesday’s close of 24,712.05. Analysts say the new duties will keep pressure on equities in the near term.

“This measure has already triggered a sharp selloff and is expected to maintain pressure on the market in the near-term,” said Santosh Meena, head of research at Swastika Investmart.

Sectors at Risk

Export-oriented industries such as textiles and apparel, gems and jewellery, seafood, chemicals, and auto components are likely to be most affected by the tariff hike.

However, pharmaceuticals, smartphones, and energy sectors have escaped additional duties for now, offering some cushion to the broader market.

Market watchers expect volatility to persist as investors weigh the long-term impact of Washington’s trade measures on India’s economy and corporate earnings.

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