Mumbai, May 15 -- Indian stock markets opened on a cautious note on Thursday, taking a breather after a strong rally witnessed earlier in the week.

The Nifty 50 index opened flat at 24,694.45, gaining 27.55 points or 0.11 per cent, while the BSE Sensex began the session at 81,354.43 with a modest rise of 23.87 points or 0.03 per cent.

Market participants noted that the inflows from Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), which had supported the recent uptrend, appear to be reversing.

Analysts attribute this shift to evolving global sentiments, especially amid concerns surrounding the US-China trade deal. Experts suggested that the markets may now lean towards a "Sell India, Buy China" trend in the near term, though some consolidation could...