The BSE Sensex dropped 251 points, or 0.3%, to 81,909 in morning trade on Tuesday, marking its third consecutive decline and hitting its lowest level in over a week. A sharp increase in H-1B visa costs continued to weigh on market sentiment. IT stocks were the main drag on the index, followed by pharmaceuticals and metals, partially offset by gains in the auto sector. Traders also closely watched developments in US-India trade talks after President Trump’s move to curb skilled visas for foreigners added fresh tension to bilateral ties. On the data front, preliminary figures showed India’s private sector growth eased in September from August’s record high, with both manufacturing and services expanding at a softer pace. However, an upbeat session on Wall Street on Monday helped limit losses, supported by strong performances from tech megacaps. Among the biggest laggards were Asian Paints (-1.9%), UltraTech Cement (-1.8%), Nestle India (-1.3%), Titan (-1.2%), and Tech Mahindra (-1.2%).
