The Indian equity markets continued their downward trend, with the Nifty 50 index closing around 22,713, reflecting a decline of nearly half a percent. This marks the sixth consecutive week of losses, primarily due to heightened global risks stemming from escalating tensions in the Middle East and rising crude oil prices, which increased by nearly 3% over the week. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have been net sellers for the eighth straight week, offloading over ₹29,000 crore (approximately $3.5 billion USD), while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) provided some support but were unable to reverse the overall trend. Market analysts, including Ravi Singh from Master Capital Services, attribute the sustained weakness to a combination of geopolitical and economic factors. A recent warning from US President Donald Trump regarding Iran has further exacerbated market volatility, raising concerns about potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil supply route. Investors are advised to keep an eye on geopolitical developments, crude oil prices, FII flows, and currency movements as these factors will heavily influence market sentiment in the upcoming week. Technically, the Nifty remains in a corrective phase, trading below its 200-day moving average, with key support levels identified at 22,450-22,500 and resistance at 23,000.