The Indian stock market is anticipated to open on a cautious note as global markets exhibit mixed signals. On Tuesday, the benchmark Sensex fell sharply by 1,456.04 points (or 1.92%) to close at 74,559.24, extending its sell-off for four consecutive sessions. The decline is attributed to escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, which have led to increased risk aversion among investors. Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd, noted that market sentiment is likely to remain fragile until there is clarity on geopolitical developments and energy price stability. In global markets, Asian indices traded lower, with Japan's Nikkei 225 down 0.33% and South Korea's Kospi down 0.36%. Meanwhile, the US stock market closed mixed, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq easing from record highs amid profit booking following higher-than-expected inflation data. The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.6% in April, marking a 3.8% year-on-year rise, the highest since May 2023. Additionally, Moody's Ratings downgraded India's economic growth forecast for 2026 by 0.8 percentage points to 6%, citing the impact of ongoing geopolitical conflicts. On the commodities front, India has increased import tariffs on gold and silver to 15%, and crude oil prices have seen a slight decline after recent highs.