IT Stocks Lead Indian Market Declines After U.S. Visa Fee Hike

Indian equity markets dropped today, with tech stocks under pressure after the U.S. imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. The NIFTY IT index plunged ~2.96%, and industry heavyweights like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro saw declines around 2-4%. Sensex fell over 150 points, with Nifty slipping below 25,300. Meanwhile, SBI and Bharti Airtel bucked the trend, adding to their market cap this week as defensive plays. Foreign investor sentiment appears cautious, and the rupee moved slightly weaker amid the policy shock.