Archive · 29 Sep 2026
India’s resilient economy contrasts with Nifty’s 13% year-to-date decline
India’s economy is still growing strongly, with GDP rising 7.8% in the first quarter of FY27.
Factory production also increased in August.
However, the Nifty 50 stock index has fallen 13% this year.
This means the economy and the stock market are showing different signals.
Investors are worried about high oil prices, rising bond yields and global uncertainty.
India imports close to 90% of its crude oil, so expensive oil can raise costs for businesses and consumers.
Foreign investors have also sold a large amount of Indian shares.
Experts say falling share prices do not necessarily mean that India’s economy is weakening.
The market may be adjusting to lower expectations for future company profits.
India’s GDP grew 7.8% in the first quarter of FY27, exceeding expectations.
Factory output rose 8% in August, up from 7.4% in July.
The Nifty 50 has fallen 13% year-to-date despite resilient economic data.
Foreign portfolio investors sold Indian stocks worth ₹2,50,103 crore this year.
Oil prices, bond yields, geopolitical risks and weak earnings expectations are pressuring markets.
- Who
- India’s economy, the Nifty 50, foreign portfolio investors and market analysts including Apurva Sheth, Uttam Kumar Srimal and Vivek Iyer.
- What
- India is reporting strong economic and factory-output growth while its benchmark stock index has declined 13% year-to-date.
- When
- The economic data covers the first quarter of FY27 and August; the market decline and foreign selling are reported for the current year.
- Where
- India and its financial markets, influenced by global bond and oil markets.
- Why
- Higher crude prices, rising global bond yields, geopolitical uncertainty, a weaker rupee, foreign selling and concerns about future earnings are weighing on equities.
Economic resilience
Market caution
Meaning of the falling market
Economic resilience
Apurva Sheth and Uttam Kumar Srimal said the market decline reflects global risk aversion, valuations, foreign flows and financial conditions rather than a structural deterioration in India’s growth story.
Market caution
Vivek Iyer said high oil prices are shifting costs onto companies, reducing expected earnings growth and helping explain the Nifty’s weakness.
Impact of crude prices
Economic resilience
The economy can continue producing decent headline growth because measures are protecting consumers and domestic activity remains resilient.
Market caution
Higher crude prices raise India’s import bill and can pressure inflation, corporate margins, the currency and demand; Iyer said every $10 above $90 reduces Nifty earnings growth by 3% to 4%.
What investors are pricing
Economic resilience
A market correction can represent repricing of financial assets and does not necessarily contradict continued economic expansion.
Market caution
Investors appear to be pricing sustained oil costs, falling earnings estimates, high US bond yields and weak global risk appetite rather than treating the oil increase as temporary.
- GDP growth
- 7.8% in India’s first quarter of FY27
- August factory output
- Industrial production grew 8% in August
- Nifty 50 performance
- Down 13% year-to-date
- Foreign stock sales
- Foreign portfolio investors sold ₹2,50,103 crore of Indian stocks this year
- Crude exposure
- India imports close to 90% of its crude
- Key market pressures
- Elevated oil prices, higher bond yields, geopolitical uncertainty, a weaker rupee and foreign outflows
- Potential earnings impact
- Vivek Iyer said every $10 increase in crude above $90 can reduce Nifty earnings growth by 3% to 4%