INDIA STOCKS-Indian shares set to open lower on US tariff uncertainty, AI-disruption fears

Feb 24 (Reuters) - India's benchmark indexes are set to open lower on Tuesday, tracking an overnight slide on Wall Street, as risk sentiment soured on renewed uncertainty around President Donald Trump's tariff policy and persistent fears of AI-driven disruption.

The Gift Nifty futures GIFc1 were trading at 25,600 points as of 7:53 a.m. IST, indicating the benchmark Nifty 50 .NSEI will open below Monday's close of 25,713.

Other Asian markets were largely muted, while Wall Street slid overnight after Trump warned countries against abandoning newly negotiated trade deals in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision striking down the emergency tariffs, saying he could impose much higher duties under other trade laws. MKTS/GLOB

Meanwhile, tensions continued to simmer between the U.S. and Iran, pushing oil prices to a near seven-month high. Rise in oil prices is a negative for net importers of the commodity such as India. O/R

"Investor sentiment remains guarded from renewed tariff-related uncertainty, coupled with lingering concerns around AI-led disruptions affecting IT stocks," said Ponmudi R, chief executive of Enrich Money.

"Markets are likely to be subdued on Tuesday, as Trump's comments have introduced near-term uncertainty for export-oriented sectors and may keep risk appetite measured at the start of the session," Ponmudi said.

Indian equity benchmarks rose on Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, but the gains were capped as persistent concerns over the disruption from AI kept IT shares under pressure. .BO

IT stocks .NIFTYIT, the second-heaviest sector on the benchmarks, lost 1.4% on Monday, taking its year-to-date drop to 16.7%. Jefferies downgraded six domestic software companies, including TCS TCS.NS and Infosys INFY.NS, on concerns about likely structural changes to the business due to AI tools.

Foreign portfolio investors snapped a two-day selling streak, purchasing shares worth 34.84 billion rupees on Monday, while domestic institutional investors sold stocks worth 12.92 billion rupees, according to provisional data from the NSE.

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