Sensex Ends Slightly Lower

The BSE Sensex concluded Thursday's trading session with a decline of approximately 0.4%, closing at 76,295.4. This downturn reversed the gains observed in the previous session and was driven primarily by declining IT stocks due to concerns over a possible U.S. recession linked to former President Trump's aggressive tariff implementations on various countries. Auto stocks also experienced downward pressure. Although these tariffs are poised to affect India's exports to the U.S., experts suggest that India might possess a more favorable position compared to its competitors, thanks to relatively lower tariff impacts. Ongoing negotiations between Indian and U.S. trade representatives aim to finalize a comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement that benefits multiple sectors. As part of his broader strategy, Trump imposed 27% reciprocal tariffs on Indian imports, introducing a 10% baseline tariff on all imports starting April 5. However, these duties currently exempt certain goods, such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, copper, and energy commodities like oil, gas, coal, and LNG. Consequently, the pharmaceutical sector performed well, with Sun Pharma notably gaining 3.3%.