Stock markets fall dragged by IT firms on U.S. H-1B visa fee hike concerns

Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Monday (September 22, 2025), dragged by IT stocks amid concerns over the U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to raise H-1B visa fees to $1,00,000 per worker.

Also, selling in blue-chip Reliance Industries took the markets lower.

Falling for the second day in a row, the 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 466.26 points or 0.56% to settle at 82,159.97. During the day, it tanked 628.94 points or 0.76% to 81,997.29.

The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 124.70 points or 0.49% to 25,202.35.

From the Sensex firms, Tech Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Service, Infosys, HCL Tech, Tata Motors, Trent, Reliance Industries and Larsen & Toubro were among the major laggards.

However, Eternal, Bajaj Finance, Adani Ports and UltraTech Cement were among the gainers.

President Trump on Friday (September 19, 2025) signed a proclamation raising the fee on the visas used by companies to hire workers, including from India, to live and work in the U.S.

The H-1B visa fee of $100,000 would be applicable only to new applicants, a White House official clarified on Saturday (September 20, 2025).

In Asian markets, South Korea’s Kospi, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index and Shanghai’s SSE Composite index settled in positive territory while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended lower.

Markets in Europe were trading lower.

U.S. markets ended higher on Friday.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude dipped 0.10% to $66.61 a barrel.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought equities worth ₹390.74 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.

On Friday, the Sensex tanked 387.73 points or 0.47% to settle at 82,626.23. The Nifty declined 96.55 points or 0.38% to 25,327.05.