Indian stock markets extended losses for a second consecutive session on Friday, with the Sensex falling over 600 points to 81,648 and Nifty 50 dropping below 25,300.

Indian stock markets extended losses for a second consecutive session on Friday, with the Sensex falling over 600 points to 81,648 and Nifty 50 dropping below 25,300. The sharp decline erased more than Rs 3.4 lakh crore in investor wealth, bringing BSE's total market capitalisation to approximately Rs 465 lakh crore. Heavy selling pressure impacted FMCG, auto, realty, and pharma sectors, with Bharti Airtel, IndiGo, Ultratech Cement, and Maruti Suzuki among the top losers. Foreign institutional investors net sold Indian equities worth nearly Rs 3,466 crore, while weak global markets, particularly tech stock declines on Wall Street, dampened sentiment. US-Iran nuclear negotiations and rupee depreciation against the dollar further pressured markets. Domestic institutional investors provided some support with net purchases of Rs 5,032 crore on Thursday.