Mon Apr 07 06:01:51 UTC 2025: ## Indian Stocks Plunge Amid Global Market Meltdown

**MUMBAI, INDIA** – A global market meltdown triggered by escalating trade war concerns sent shockwaves through Indian markets on Monday. The benchmark Sensex plummeted over 5 percent, wiping out a staggering Rs 20.16 lakh crore (approximately $240 billion USD) from investors’ wealth in early morning trading.

The 30-share BSE Sensex index tumbled 3,939.68 points to close at 71,425.01, reflecting a 5.22 percent drop. This dramatic fall mirrored similar declines across Asia, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index down over 11 percent, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 falling 7 percent, and other major Asian indices experiencing significant losses. The sell-off followed a steep decline in US markets on Friday, where the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow all experienced drops exceeding 5 percent.

Several major Indian companies suffered double-digit losses, including Tata Steel and Tata Motors, which each fell over 10 percent. Other significant laggards included Larsen & Toubro, HCL Technologies, Adani Ports, and several IT giants. The BSE smallcap and midcap indices also experienced sharp declines, falling 6.62 percent and 5.01 percent respectively. All sectoral indices traded in negative territory, with metals, industrials, and commodities suffering particularly heavy losses.

The market capitalization of BSE-listed firms decreased by Rs 20,16,293.53 crore to Rs 3,83,18,592.93 crore (USD 4.50 trillion) during the morning trade.

V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, attributed the volatility to extreme uncertainty surrounding President Trump’s tariffs and advised a “wait and watch” approach. Brent crude oil also fell 2.76 percent to USD 63.77 a barrel. The widespread panic underscores the global impact of rising trade tensions.

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