Domestic frontlines Nifty 50 and Sensex extended their rout to the afternoon session on January 17, trading with sharp cuts as the optimism from the past three sessions waned. Investors rushed to take profits off the table following the three-day technical pullback, as the bearish sentiment held strong.

The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a positive start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 23,405 level, a premium of nearly 140 points from the Nifty futures’ previous close.

The market is expected to be under intense pressure with strong headwinds. Brent crude is above $81 per barrel, while sharper than expected surge in US jobs data coupled with consistent FIIs selling and Q3 earnings have taken a toll on the market.