India’s stock market benchmark fell in early trade on Monday, tracking a drop in global market sentiment as demonstrations against China’s strict zero-covid policy took place in the country’s major cities.

Concerns over the management of COVID-19 in the world’s second-largest economy sent Asian markets to lower after clashes between demonstrators and police in Shanghai on Sunday.

The BSE Sensex fell 15.45 points to 62,278.19, and the broader NSE Nifty opened lower, mirroring a sea of red in other Asian bourses.

Earlier, the Sensex and Nifty closed at record highs for the second day in a row and posted gains for a fourth straight session on Friday.

MSCI’s index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.6% after US stocks ended slightly lower on Friday. Chinese markets tumbled as protests erupted in several Chinese cities. Hong Kong stocks fell 2%, while the Shanghai Composite Index fell 1%.

A surge in COVID and widespread discontent has put an end to optimism that China’s economy is ready to reopen. Growth will continue to be hampered by constraints that don’t appear to be going away anytime soon.

Concerns about China’s economic growth also weighed on commodity trading in Asia. Brent crude fell to $83 a barrel on concerns that Covid restrictions could slow China’s economic expansion.

US crude fell 0.25% to $76.08 a barrel. A barrel of Brent crude fell 0.16% to $83.48. Both benchmarks fell for a third straight week last week, hitting 10-month lows.