Markets Slide as Global Weakness, STT Hike Weigh

A steep hike in STT has sharply increased round-trip costs for Nifty futures to 20–25 points, making many intraday, HFT and algo strategies unviable. Market participants warn of reduced profitability, lower liquidity, and a potential 20–30% decline in F&O trading volumes, impacting both retail and institutional players.