Indian Stock Market Plunges: Sensex Drops 4,000 Points, Nifty Below 200-Day Moving Average

Introduction: A Turbulent Week for Indian Markets

The Indian stock market faced a significant downturn this week, with the Sensex plunging over 4,000 points and the Nifty 50 slipping below its crucial 200-day exponential moving average (DEMA) of 23,700. On Friday, December 20, 2024, the Sensex opened at 79,335.48 but dropped over 1,200 points to hit a low of 77,972.68, while the Nifty 50 fell nearly 400 points to 23,565.

With heavyweights such as TCS, Reliance, Infosys, Axis Bank, and HDFC Bank declining between 1-3%, the benchmark indices remain under intense selling pressure. This marks the fifth consecutive session of losses for the Indian markets, reflecting concerns both globally and domestically.

What Is Driving the Indian Stock Market Down?

1. US Federal Reserve Rate Cut Outlook

One of the key reasons behind this week’s market turmoil is the US Federal Reserve’s revised rate cut outlook. While markets had anticipated three to four rate cuts in 2025, the Fed signaled only two quarter-percentage point cuts. This hawkish stance has rattled investor confidence worldwide, sparking a sell-off in global markets, including India.

“The global sentiments have been quite weak post the hawkish guidance of the US Fed. Domestically, we are still waiting for some more concrete ordering and tendering to sort of shape up. So it’s a combination of both global and domestic factors that are driving the market down,” said Pankaj Pandey, Head of Research at ICICI Securities.

2. Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) Outflows

The Fed’s hawkish guidance has strengthened the US dollar and bond yields, leading to significant foreign capital outflows from Indian markets. Over the last four sessions alone, FIIs have sold equities worth over ₹12,000 crore, reversing the buying trend seen earlier in December.

“The FII buying witnessed in early December is getting reversed now with this week’s selling reaching ₹12,229 crore. This change in FII strategy is getting reflected in market trends, too, with large-caps, particularly financials, coming under pressure due to FII selling,” said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

3. Macroeconomic Concerns

Several macroeconomic factors have added to investor worries:

• Rupee Depreciation: The Indian rupee has fallen to an all-time low against the dollar, eroding investor confidence and raising import costs.
• Widening Trade Deficit: India’s trade deficit hit a record high in November, reflecting weaker export performance and rising imports.
• Slowing Economic Growth: India’s Q2 GDP print was the lowest in nearly two years, signaling that economic growth has slowed for the third consecutive quarter.

These concerns highlight the fragile state of India’s economy and have weighed heavily on investor sentiment.

4. Uncertainty Over Earnings Recovery

After weak Q1 and Q2 corporate earnings, hopes of a recovery in Q3 remain cautious. While some analysts expect improvement due to a better festive season and sector-specific recovery, concerns about sticky inflation and elevated interest rates persist.

“Largely, there will be some recovery in Q3 because some of the biggest beaten-down sectors, such as oil and gas, would witness some improvement on a quarter-on-quarter basis. We had a fairly decent festive season as well. So, that should lead to better quarter-on-quarter growth numbers,” explained Pandey.

5. Weak Performance of Heavyweight Sectors

Major sectors, including banking, IT, and financials, have struggled, dragging the market indices lower. Stocks of index heavyweights like Reliance, TCS, Infosys, Axis Bank, and HDFC Bank recorded significant losses this week, further exacerbating the market decline.

“Big sectors are not performing at this point in time, which is why the markets have been displaying weakness,” added Pandey.

Market Performance Overview

Index	Opening (December 20)	Day’s Low	Weekly Loss
Sensex	79,335.48	77,972.68	Over 4,000 points (-5%)
Nifty 50	23,960.70	23,565.00	Nearly 5%

Key Sectors Under Pressure

The sell-off has impacted several critical sectors, including:

• Banking and Financials: FII selling has hit large-cap banking stocks hard, including Axis Bank and HDFC Bank.
• IT Sector: Tech giants like TCS and Infosys faced losses amid concerns about US Fed policies affecting global tech demand.
• Energy and Oil: Energy stocks have shown little momentum despite hopes for recovery in Q3 earnings.

Global Impact and Investor Sentiment

The Indian stock market’s decline aligns with weak global market trends, driven by concerns over the US Fed’s policy stance and its impact on interest rates. Rising bond yields have made fixed-income investments in the US more attractive, prompting investors to move capital away from emerging markets like India.

Future Outlook: What’s Next for Indian Markets?

Looking ahead, the following factors will play a key role in determining market trends:

1. US Federal Reserve Policies: Any revisions in rate-cut projections or changes in economic data will directly influence investor sentiment globally.
2. FII Activity: Stabilization of foreign capital outflows will be crucial for reversing market losses.
3. Macroeconomic Indicators: Monitoring the trade deficit, rupee stability, and GDP growth will remain critical.
4. Q3 Corporate Earnings: The December quarter results will provide further clarity on sectoral recovery and overall economic performance.

Navigating a Volatile Market

The Indian stock market has faced a challenging week, with the Sensex losing over 4,000 points and the Nifty 50 falling below its 200-day moving average. Global headwinds, such as the US Fed’s hawkish rate stance and rising bond yields, coupled with domestic concerns like macroeconomic uncertainty and FII outflows, have driven the market lower.

Investors are advised to remain cautious and focus on long-term fundamentals while tracking key indicators such as corporate earnings, FII activity, and global market trends.

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FAQs

1. Why is the Indian stock market falling this week?
The market is reacting to the US Fed’s revised rate cut outlook, FII outflows, macroeconomic concerns, and weak performance in heavyweight sectors.

2. How much has the Sensex and Nifty fallen this week?
The Sensex has dropped over 4,000 points (5%), and the Nifty 50 has lost nearly 5%.

3. Which sectors are under pressure in the stock market?
Banking, financials, IT, and energy sectors are among the worst-hit.

4. What role do FIIs play in the market decline?
FIIs have sold Indian equities worth over ₹12,000 crore in the past four sessions due to rising bond yields and a stronger dollar.

5. What should investors watch for in the coming weeks?
Investors should monitor US Fed policies, macroeconomic data, Q3 corporate earnings, and FII activity for market direction.