Indian stock indices open in heavy selling mode:Sensex drifts 400 points, Nifty down 0.52% on US-EU trade war over Greenland

On the first trading day of the week, on Monday, January 19, 2026, the Indian stock market opened in heavy selling mode. Amid negative signals from the global market, both major domestic market indices opened in the red. In early trading, BSE Sensex fell by about 300 points to reach near the 83,250 level. While Nifty 50 also dropped by more than 100 points to slip below 25,600. GIFT Nifty was showing a decline of more than 150 points since morning, which also impacted Dalal Street. The biggest reason for this decline in the market is US President Donald Trump’s statement, in which he warned of imposing heavy taxes (tariffs) on European countries. Additionally, investor sentiment was also affected by selling in large stocks like Reliance and ICICI Bank. Out of 30 Sensex stocks, 14 are showing gains and 16 are declining. Reliance and ICICI Bank shares are down by up to 3%. 4 Major Reasons for Stock Market Decline 1. Trump’s Tariff Threat Causes Global Market Decline US President Donald Trump recently warned European countries regarding Greenland. He stated that countries opposing his plans would face heavy import duties (tariffs). After this statement, there is an atmosphere of fear in markets from America to Asia. Experts say that if a trade war-like situation develops, more market volatility could be seen in the coming days. 2. Pressure on Reliance and ICICI Bank Shares After the third quarter (Q3) results of India’s largest company Reliance Industries (RIL), its shares are seeing a decline today. Reliance’s profit was as expected, but investors started booking profits due to a slight decrease in margins. Similarly, ICICI Bank’s results were also in-line, yet the stock fell by nearly 3% in early trading. The Nifty came under pressure due to the fall in these two heavily weighted stocks. 3. Foreign Investors (FIIs) Continuously Withdrawing Money The trend of foreign institutional investors (FII) withdrawing money from the Indian market continues unabated. In January so far, they have sold shares worth approximately Rs 16,600 crores. Although domestic investors (DIIs) are trying to support the market through continuous buying, this support appears insufficient against global pressure. 4. Record Surge in Gold-Silver, Dollar Strengthens Amid growing global uncertainty, demand for gold and silver has increased as safe-haven investments. This morning, gold crossed $4,670 with a gain of about 1.6%, which is a new record. Silver prices also saw a jump of more than 3%. On the other hand, following Trump’s statements, fluctuations continue in the dollar index, putting pressure on the Indian rupee. Mixed Trading in Global Markets Foreign Investors Sold Shares Worth ₹4,346 Crore What’s Next: Focus Will Be On These Triggers Market experts believe that fluctuations will continue in the market throughout this week. Investors are now focused on Europe’s inflation rate (CPI) data. If global data comes in worse than expected, the decline could increase. As the quarterly results season is currently ongoing in India, action will continue to be seen in select stocks. Technically, the 25,500 level could act as strong support for Nifty. Sensex closed 187 points higher on Friday The stock market was bullish on the last trading day of the past week, i.e. Friday (January 16). Sensex closed 187 points higher at 83,570. Nifty also rose by 28 points, closing at the level of 25,694.