Sensex, Nifty Slide 0.5% at Open Amid Risk-Off Mood, FII Selling

• Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty opened sharply lower by 0.5% each, extending recent choppy trends.
• Weak global cues, persistent foreign fund outflows (FIIs sold over Rs 4,300 crore on Friday), and geopolitical uncertainty weighed on market sentiment.
• Nifty's crucial support levels are flagged at 25,600-25,500; a break below could lead to deeper cuts, while resistance is near 25,900-26,000.
• Market breadth was negative, volatility (India VIX) jumped over 6%, and IT stocks faced pressure, though select banking names showed resilience.
• Experts advise caution, with Shrikant Chouhan of Kotak Securities suggesting reducing weak long positions, and VK Vijayakumar of Geojit Investments recommending selective accumulation of quality largecap stocks during dips.

Why It Matters: Indian markets opened lower due to global weakness, FII selling, and geopolitical concerns, with volatility expected.