Fri Jul 18 10:57:34 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text, tailored to emphasize the Indian perspective:

**Summary:**

On July 18, 2025, Indian benchmark stock indices, Sensex and Nifty, experienced a second consecutive day of decline. The Sensex fell by 0.61% to 81,757.73, and the Nifty dropped by 0.57% to 24,968.40. The downturn was primarily attributed to foreign fund outflows (FII) and selling pressure in banking stocks, particularly after Axis Bank’s quarterly earnings disappointed investors. The fall in banking stocks dragged the BSE Bankex down significantly. While most Asian markets showed mixed performance, European markets gained. The Indian market was also impacted by global oil prices trending upwards.

**News Article:**

**Indian Markets Stumble Amid Foreign Outflows, Banking Sector Concerns**

**Mumbai, July 18, 2025:** Indian stock markets closed lower for the second straight day on Friday, as persistent foreign fund outflows and disappointing results from the banking sector weighed on investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex fell 501.51 points (0.61%) to close at 81,757.73, while the NSE Nifty declined 143.05 points (0.57%) to end at 24,968.40.

The decline was largely fueled by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloading equities worth ₹3,694.31 crore on Thursday. Market analysts point to Axis Bank’s weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings as a key trigger for the sell-off, particularly in banking stocks. Axis Bank shares plummeted 5.24% after reporting a dip in net profit.

“Investor caution regarding banking stocks is palpable following Axis Bank’s results,” said Devarsh Vakil, Head of Prime Research at HDFC Securities. “The deterioration in the bank’s asset quality during the June quarter has raised concerns.”

The BSE Bankex mirrored the negativity, ending 1.33% lower. Other major banking stocks, including HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and State Bank of India, also experienced losses.

While most Asian markets presented a mixed picture, with some gains in Shanghai and Hong Kong, the Indian markets followed the downward trend observed in South Korea and Japan.

Global oil prices also edged higher, with Brent crude climbing to $70.16 a barrel, adding to concerns about inflationary pressures.

The continued selling pressure and the lukewarm start to the earnings season have created an atmosphere of uncertainty in the Indian markets. Investors will be closely monitoring upcoming corporate results and global economic cues for further direction.

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