US trade fears rattle markets; Nifty below 26,000

Domestic equities were shaken by the ‘Trump factor’ throughout the week, leaving India the worst-performing major market globally as risk-off sentiment gripped investors.

- Abhinaba Saha & Mayur Bhalerao

Markets struggled amid a trio of US-driven shocks. Sentiment was hit by Friday’s announcement that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutick signalled a delay in the US-India trade agreement.

Concerns deepened as the proposed Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, which threatens tariffs of up to 500% on countries still buying Russian oil, advanced in Congress, stoking concerns over India’s growth and market stability.

Sentiment had also been rattled earlier in the week by the US military's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, triggering a broad-based sectoral retreat.