Mumbai: India’s benchmark Nifty 50 has extended its fall for an eighth straight week, marking its longest weekly losing streak in 25 years.
Heavy foreign investor selling, high US bond yields and geopolitical tensions have continued to put pressure on the Indian stock market.
The Nifty has lost more than 2,149 points, or around 8.7 per cent, over the past nine weeks. The index has fallen more than 3 per cent this week alone.
Nifty 15% Below Record High
The Nifty is now around 15 per cent below its all-time high of 26,373, which it touched in January 2026.
A decline of 20 per cent from a recent peak is commonly used as a benchmark for a bear market, putting the index’s continued fall in focus.
The current eight-week losing run is the longest since 2001, when the Nifty declined for nine consecutive weeks. Its longest losing streak was 10 weeks in 1993.
September was also a weak month, with the index falling 6.1 per cent, marking its second consecutive monthly decline.
Foreign Investors Continue Selling
Foreign investors have withdrawn more than ₹2.6 lakh crore from Indian equities during calendar year 2026.
In September alone, foreign institutional investors sold equities worth ₹45,536 crore through stock exchanges. At the same time, they invested ₹9,676 crore through the primary market.
High US Treasury yields have added to the pressure. The US 10-year Treasury yield remains around 5.3 per cent, reducing the appeal of emerging-market equities.
Nifty Support Seen Near 22,400
Technical indicators also point to continued weakness. Around 81 per cent of Nifty 500 stocks are trading below their 50-day simple moving averages, according to ICICI Securities.
The brokerage sees an important support zone around 22,400.
For a stronger recovery, the Nifty needs to move above 23,080, the previous week’s high. The benchmark has failed to cross this level for seven weeks.
Crude Oil Remains A Key Risk
Brent crude has slipped below $100 per barrel to around $98, providing some relief to India.
However, crude prices remain sensitive to US-Iran tensions and developments around the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices, foreign investor flows and global bond yields could therefore remain important factors for the Indian market in the near term.
