Markets slide in August: US tariffs, Russia-Ukraine war hit equity; GST reforms offer cushion

Indian equity markets faced headwinds from US tariff hikes and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, partially offset by GST reforms. Bond yields rose as the RBI held rates steady. Despite market weakness, a sovereign credit rating upgrade provided some support. Equity funds saw mixed performance, while debt funds delivered positive returns across all timeframes. Passive funds outperformed in the last year.