Indian equity markets opened on a cautious note, with the benchmark Nifty futures trading more than 190 points below the previous close.
The Gift Nifty hovered near the 24,049 mark in early trade, reflecting a negative bias as investors digested overnight volatility.
The broader market sentiment was dampened by persistent pressure on crude oil prices, which remain elevated amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The pre-market weakness suggests a challenging start for domestic indices, which had closed largely unchanged on Monday despite a positive underlying bias.
Traders are closely monitoring the impact of higher energy costs on corporate margins and consumer spending, particularly for sectors with high fuel exposure.
The volatility is likely to persist as markets assess the duration of the supply-side risks.