INDIA STOCKS-Indian equity benchmarks off to a muted start as US tariffs continue to weigh

Aug 11 (Reuters) - India's equity benchmarks opened flat on Monday, after posting a sixth straight weekly loss on Friday, as sentiment remained subdued due to uncertainty over U.S. tariffs on goods from India.

The Nifty 50 .NSEI rose 0.03% to 24,371.5 points and the BSE Sensex .BSESN gained 0.03% to 79,885.36 as of 9:15 a.m. IST.

Eight of the 16 major sectors logged losses. The broader, small-caps .NIFSMCP100 and mid-caps .NIFMDCP100 also traded flat.

The Nifty and Sensex .BSESN shed nearly 1% last week, and logged their longest weekly losing streak in five years, as U.S. tariffs and muted earnings dampened sentiment.

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on goods from India, half of which has already come into effect, while the additional 25%, which is a punitive tariff for buying Russian oil, will be effective August 28.

Investors will closely watch the meeting between Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.